PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – It's an exciting new season for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball program with a solid core returning to the court with a slew of new faces looking to deliver a winning year while keeping a highly competitive spirit.
After going 12-14 (7-7 MEAC) in 2021, the Hawks were picked to finish fifth in the conference by head coaches and sports information directors, but expectations are high as the team heads into its first weekend of action starting Friday (August 26) at Binghamton.
Meet the Team
There's a great mix of youth and experience on the 2022 Hawks squad, returning eight student-athletes while bringing in three freshmen, two JUCO transfers and a transfer from Coppin State.
Returning as a graduate student is outside hitter
Alexis Lee, who has been an anchor for the Hawks since arriving on campus in 2018. With Lee, the Hawks will have a reliable offensive weapon as she brings a career 566 kills back to the court.
Bringing a wealth of experience are the trio of seniors
Sophia Chacon,
Derionah Abner and
Sydney Morris. Chacon's 96 assists ranked third on the team in 2021 and she will be expected to keep the offense moving this season following the departures of
Jalynn Robinson (476 assists) and
Tijana Korosec (214 assists). Abner led the Hawks with 230 points last season, nearly 100 more than the next returning player
Charlize Williams. Morris brings back energy off the bench and will look to have more looks in the rotation after playing 24 sets in 2021.
The lone returning junior of the team is
Yazmyn Stewart, bringing a year of experience to the court and will see a bigger role following the losses of
Maya Hendricks and
Marina Cruz.
A strong sophomore class that excelled as freshmen return for the Hawks to continue the hard work they put in during their first year on campus. MEAC All-Rookie
Charlize Williams is expected to be a dominate force in the middle and step into the leadership role
Mauri Carver had taken over.
Soleil Cotton found her way into just four games last season but has put in the hard work during the offseason to be an even stronger contributor.
Ranyla Griggs is the final junior and after a 2021 where she took advantage of every opportunity given, it'll be expected for her to only improve her game in 2022.
Learn about the freshman class and transfers
here.
Schedule Outlook
The Hawks start out the season with four tournaments in the month of September before kicking off a fourteen game MEAC schedule. To begin the year, the Hawks will play in the Bearcat Classic, hosted by Binghamton University who they will face off with on Friday (August 26) night, followed by games with Siena College and Boston College on Saturday (August 27).
The following weekend the Hytche will get its first taste of action for the school year, with the Hawks hosting the Henson Hawk Invitational with Hampton University and Manhattan College visiting on September 2 and 3.
To wrap up the tournament schedule, the Hawks will head to Williamsburg, Virginia on September 9 and 10 to play William and Mary, then to Fairfax, Virginia to play Morgan State, George Mason and the University of New Hampshire on September 16 and 17.
On September 23 the Hawks begin conference play at Norfolk State – who the Hawks have a 15-game winning streak against. Mixed in to the MEAC schedule is a Tuesday afternoon trip on October 4 to American University in Washington, DC.
Most of the conference games will be played on Friday's and Sunday's, with the exceptions being a home games against Delaware State on September 24 (Thursday) and North Carolina Central on October 29 (Saturday).
Follow the action this season on Twitter via @ESHawksVBall.
