HACKENSACK, New Jersey — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore appeared to have secured an emotional win in five sets on Friday evening (August 27) after an apparent kill from junior Derionah Abner. However, a successful challenge by the Robert Morris University Colonials kept the match going and they would eventually get the win in the first day of the Fairleigh Dickinson Tournament. The scores by set were 18-25, 16-25, 25-22, 25-21 and 14-16.
"We know with the challenge system things could get weird at the end of matches," head coach Trevor Callarman said. "I got a sense from the refs that it would get changed and when it did, we tried to rein everything back in but Robert Morris took advantage and we couldn't quite get a win today"
Maryland Eastern Shore looked a bit rusty in the first two sets as they were playing in their first action since November 2019 and fell into a 0-2 hole. The squad responded in the third set led by seniors Mauri Carver and Alexis Lee. The duo were dominant at the net to start and help the Hawks build an 18-4 lead in the set. The Colonials fought back and eventually got within three at 24-21, but they committed a service error to give Eastern Shore the set win.
In the fourth set, The Shore had another fast start as a kill from Lee gave them an 11-5 lead. The frame would go back and forth for the majority of the rest of the set before RMU made a late run. The Colonials got a kill to make the Hawks lead 23-21, but Callarman challenged the call and it was reversed to give the squad a 24-20 advantage. Two points later, Carver would get a kill to send the match into the final set.
Eastern Shore held a 9-6 lead following a kill from graduate student Marina Cruz. Robert Morris got the next two points and forced Callarman to take a timeout. The seesaw battle continued until a kill from sophomore Maya Hendricks put the team up 14-13, but that would be the last point the team would score.
During the next point, Abner's attack was rewarded with a kill by the referees and the Hawks looked to have made the amazing comeback. Robert Morris's coach would challenge the call stating that he saw a Hawks player in the net prior to Abner's kill. After a three minute review the call was reversed and the set was tied at 14. RMU would get a kill and an ace after that to secure the five set victory.
"Overall, the team played great and I was happy we were able to get the middles going starting in the third set," Callarman said. "I also think we had a great bench today because the sideline really stayed in it and I think that was a catalyst for us getting back in it."
Lee led the team in kills with 14 as Carver had an all-around match with 12 kills, five blocks and an ace. Cruz led the squad in digs with 14, while sophomore Jalynn Robinson's 23 assists were a team high. Hendricks also had a strong match with nine kills, 12 digs and four blocks.
The team will be in action tomorrow (August 28) for two matches in the Fairleigh Dickinson Tournament. They will face the host at 12:30 p.m. before dueling with Manhattan College at 3:30 p.m.
