PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – It's a quick weekend for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball program, hosting South Carolina State on Friday (October 28) at 6 p.m. and turning it around the next day with a home match against North Carolina Central at 2 p.m. on Sunday (October 30), both games in the Hytche Athletic Center.
Currently the Hawks (5-15, 3-6 MEAC) sit at sixth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference standings, with the Bulldogs (0-20, 0-9 MEAC) in eighth and the Eagles (5-15, 4-5 MEAC) one spot ahead of Maryland Eastern Shore in fifth – also holding a head-to-head in case of a tie-break.
"We're confident heading into the weekend but we always know that other teams are looking to ruin any momentum that's been built," head coach
Trevor Callarman said. "We're going into these games with high expectations while not letting our guard down."
Checking In on the Hawks
It was an underwhelming weekend for Maryland Eastern Shore against Norfolk State and at Howard University, with the Hawks dropping both matches against the MEAC foes. The Hawks took Norfolk to five sets for the second time this season but were unable to close it out Friday (October 21) and showed resolve against the Bison (14-7, 7-1 MEAC) only for the preseason favorites to grab it in four sets.
There's been some shake-up with the Hawks line-up recently, with
Valeria Matias and
Isil Yilmaz swapping between libero; on offense
Sydney Morris has been making the most of her senior year by moving outside to become an offensive weapon while the Hawks were down during
Derionah Abner's short injury that cost her two games. Abner returned this past weekend, racking up 17 kills at a .231 rate with two aces and three block assists.
About the Bulldogs
It's been a struggle the last few seasons for the Bulldogs, not taking a match since against Savannah State in 2018 before the Tigers went down to Division II. South Carolina State hasn't won a match this season, taking just one set the entire campaign this past Sunday (October 23) against Morgan State.
The Hawks swept the Bulldogs in three sets in the last meeting and no student-athlete ranks in the top-10 in the MEAC.
Semira Fields is the top offensive weapon for the Bulldogs, with 74 kills this season at a 1.77 rate and Siela Avea has been the main setter with 167 assists. McKinley Roach and Gabbi Panzetta have combined for 44 blocking points
Eyeing the Eagles
In under 24 hours the Hawks will have to turn it around against North Carolina Central, with the first serve at 2 p.m. coming against the Eagles. After falling to Norfolk last weekend and being unable to upset Howard, this will be a must win for the Hawks to get solid tournament placing.
North Carolina Central sits one game ahead of the Hawks in the MEAC, the games with Norfolk sitting as the difference, but Maryland Eastern Shore holds the game-to-game difference with a 3-1 win on October 9. Freshman
Nkemjika Ikemefuna was on fire that match, notching 15 kills and two aces which helped lead her to MEAC Rookie of the Week.
Individually Kamren Harper (190 kills) and Tori Wilson (167 kills) have been the anchors for North Carolina Central, with Vanila Pulu-Suliafu being a 5-and-1 with 466 assists. Defensively Wilson has been key at the net with 29 total blocks to lead the team, Loren Johnson has 3.64 digs per set.
How to Follow
Both games this weekend will be streamed live on Facebook PPV, Live Stats will also be provided, links are available on the Maryland Eastern Shore Athletics website.
Follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksVBall.
