PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team was unable to steal a win on Thursday, September 29 from visiting Delaware State University, falling in three sets (21-25, 15-25 and 13-25) at the Hytche Athletic Center.
There was a valiant effort given by the Hawks (2-11, 0-3 MEAC) in the first set, with 10 ties and three score changes with the Hornets (12-4, 2-1 MEAC). The Hawks were able to grab a 15-13 lead before the Hornets stormed back, tying it up at 17-17 and then rattled off four straight points to put the set out of reach for the home squad.
The first set was a battle at the net, with each squad grabbing four individual blocks and
Sydney Morris grabbing two solos and an assisted block.
After the fight in the first set, the Hawks were able to snag an early 3-2 lead off a
Derionah Abner kill in the second only for the Hornets to grab three straight points and a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The set got as close as 12-13 following a Delaware State attack error only for the Hawks to see quick points and a late five point run against them to drop the set.
Nothing worked for the Hawks in the third and final set as the Hornets jumped out to 1-5 until head coach
Trevor Callarman called a timeout to stop the bleeding. Abner and
Ranyla Griggs got the Hawks two points out of the break, yet another huge run by the Hornets – this time seven points – put the match away quickly.
Abner and
Nkemjika Ikemefuna led the way for the Hawks with seven kills each,
Sophia Chacon led both teams with 16 assists. Defensively,
Isil Yilmaz in the libero role had 10 digs and
Valeria Matias eight – Morris finished with 2.5 combined blocks.
The Hawks get the weekend off to work on any woes and are back in action on Tuesday, October 4 on the road at American University in the final out of conference match of the season. It's been six years since the Hawks and Eagles have met, and eight since Maryland Eastern Shore visited the Washington, DC school.
Follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksVBall.
