PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — In their first action at home in almost two years, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team defeated the Saint Francis University Red Flash in four sets on Friday night (September 17) inside the William P. Hytche Center.

"It took us a while to get our stride, but the fans really fueled us through today," head coach Trevor Callarman said. "As the match went on the girls settled in and they started to click."

After dropping the first set, the second set was a back and forth affair. The frame was tied at 19 as sophomore Portia Strasburg headed to the service line. The team went on a 5-0 run at that time to get one point from a victory. SFU got a point to prolong the set before a block from junior Derionah Abner and sophomore Lyric Snowden ended the set with a 25-20 Hawks win.

In the third set, Eastern Shore built a 15-11 lead halfway through the frame. They kept at least a three point advantage for the rest of the set as a kill from Abner put the team up two sets to one after a 25-18 victory.

In the final set, Strasburg had another strong run on the service line and got an ace to put the squad up 10-6 and force a Red Flash timeout. SFU responded and took a 14-12 lead and Callarman was forced to take a timeout.

Following the break, Maryland Eastern Shore went on a 9-3 run to lead 21-17. Saint Francis would close that lead to one, but the Hawks held them off and the Red Flash would eventually have a service error to end the match with a 25-21 win for The Shore.

Abner and sophomore Maya Hendricks tied for the team high in kills with eight. Junior Sophia Chacon led the squad with 14 assists.

The team will be back in action tomorrow (September 18) against the Hampton University Pirates at 4 p.m. in the second day of the Hawk Invitational.