NORFOLK, Virginia – Late errors squandered an early match lead for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball program in Norfolk, Virginia on Friday, September 23 against Norfolk State University. Jumping out to a two-set lead, the Hawks (2-9, 0-1 MEAC) dropped two straight sets and forced a 16^th point in the fifth in a loss to the Spartans (1-10, 1-0 MEAC).
 
The teams played sets to 25-20, 25-20, 16-25, 20-25 and 14-16 in the conference matchup.
 
"It was a hard-fought match from the Hawks," head coach Trevor Callarman said. "Games like this can go either way. We are going to work on being able to close the next one out in our favor next time."
 
Derionah Abner was unstoppable for the Hawks in the first set, grabbing both the initial point and was on the block for the final point in the 25-22 win – the senior accumulated seven kills on eight attempts alongside two block assists in the set alone. The Hawks took advantage of two key runs to take the set, an early five-point run to flip the lead and a late three-point run at the end of the set with the game tied at 22.
 
It was much of the same in the second set between the squads, with the Hawks using a five-point run to separate themselves until it looked like Norfolk was going to make a late run before the Hawks shut it down. If Abner was the hero in the first set, it was Nkemjika Ikemefuna in the second with two kills, two block assists and two aces, including an ace for the final point.
 
Things quickly fell apart for the Hawks in the third set as errors began to pile up and the team hitting percentage dropped from over .300 in the first and second to just .133 in the third. Fight was shown at the beginning of the set, keeping it as close as 9-10 only for a four-point run by Norfolk to separate the teams and keeping the Hawks out of the set.
 
The Hawks were slow to get going in the fourth as the Hawks had three straight attack errors to put them in a 3-6 hole that they were unable to recover from, hitting in the negatives and being blocked three times. Both squads made it interesting with several long rallies and Norfolk nearly giving up the lead when the Hawks got it to 15-16. Attack errors plagued the Hawks though through the set, eventually one giving the Spartans their 25^th point to go into a fifth set.
 
With the game on the line in the fifth set, the Hawks and Spartans gave the crowd a show as they tied five times before going to a deciding 16^th point. Down at 10-13, the Hawks rattled off three straight points to tie the game and traded to make it 14-14. Unfortunately for the Hawks, it would be another attack error and reception error that would give them the loss.
 
Abner led both teams in the match with 15 kills at a .242%, followed by Sydney Morris for the Hawks. Sophia Chacon and Romina Vacca continue to grow as a setting tandem, with Chacon racking up 26 assists and Vacca 15. It wasn't the best day for the Hawks at the service line, finishing with 16 service while only being able to muster seven aces. Defensively Charlize Williams shined, finishing with four solo and eight assisted blocks.
 
A highly anticipated matchup awaits the Hawks on Sunday, September 25, as reigning MEAC champion Howard visits the Hytche at 3 p.m. for conference play.
 
Follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksVBall.