PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – The regular season is winding for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball program, with the last home match set to take place against Morgan State University on Wednesday, November 9 at 1 p.m. in the Hytche Athletic Center.
 
It will be the third time the Hawks (7-16, 5-7 MEAC) take on the Bears (3-22, 2-9 MEAC), falling in five sets early in the season at the George Mason Invitational during a non-conference meeting, before sweeping Morgan in Baltimore during conference play on October 16.
 
It will be an emotional game for the Hawks, as they will honor Sophia Chacon, Alexis Lee, Sydney Morris and Derionah Abner for Senior Day.
 
Checking In on the Hawks
 
With the final games of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season wrapping up, the Hawks currently sit in fifth place and will complete the season at Delaware State this Friday (October 11). If the season ended today the Hawks would take on Norfolk State in the MEAC tournament, with the Spartans sitting in fourth – they have two matches remaining, both with Howard University.
 
Derionah Abner and Nkemjika Ikemefuna have been the one-two punch for the Hawks on offense this fall, the pair leading the team with 172 and 170 kills, respectively. Sophia Chacon has led the way since game one in assists, serving up 443, with Romina Vacca working her way into the lineup and grabbing 264 in her time.
 
Charlize Williams built on her MEAC All-Rookie season with a quiet but dominate year at middle blocker, leading the team in both solo (25) and assisted blocks (44), while also being third on the team with 175 points at a .299 hitting rate that's seventh in the MEAC.
 
On the back line, Valeria Matias and Isil Yilmaz have been the anchors, sitting at sixth and seventh in the conference at 2.73 and 2.52 digs per set. The two Hawk newcomers have traded off on defensive specialist and libero roles.
 
Marking Morgan
 
The Bears looked dangerous in their first meeting with the Hawks at the George Mason Invitational, taking the meeting simply due to Hawk errors in five sets. Upon meeting the second time, University of Maryland Eastern Shore was dominant, taking all three sets on the way to a sweep.
 
Morgan sits at seventh in the conference but could shake things up with a win at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore or upsets against Coppin State or Delaware State this week to creep into fifth or sixth place.
 
It's a fairly even offense for the Bears, Makila Billingsly leading the way with 204 points, but Madison Grace and Jourdan Page are not far behind, each has at least 180 points. Morgan is running a true 4-2, as Trinity Carruthers and Mackenzie Jefferson each having over 280 assists.
 
Alyssa Sampson runs the backcourt for the Bears, sitting at sixth in the conference with 3.24 digs per set. Justyus Jackson has been the Bear at the net, leading the team with 13 solo blocks and 44 assisted.
 
How the Follow
 
The game will be streamed live on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore athletics Facebook page, as well as Live Stats updates on the Hawks website. As always, follow along with the action on Twitter via @ESHawksVBall.