Ranyla Griggs leads Hawks to five set win over North Carolina Central

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks fought back on Friday night to win in five sets over North Carolina Central.


With the victory, UMES matches its win total from last season while improving to 9-8 overall and 2-3 in the MEAC. NCCU, which played in their ninth five-set match of the year, fell to 2-12 overall and 1-4 in the conference.


In a first set which included 13 ties and six lead changes, UMES clung to a 20-19 lead before surrendering five straight points to NCCU and eventually falling by a score of 25-21. The Hawks bounced back midway through the second set by scoring eight straight points to ballon their lead to 22-14 and finishing the set with a 25-15 win. 


Tied 16-16 in the third set, NCCU scored five of the proceeding six points to go up 21-17. Up by two, kills by Emmie Modlin and Amarah Johnson closed out the set in favor of the Eagles, 25-21.


The fourth set was a back and forth early on with 14 ties and six lead changes before the Hawks went on to a six point run which included two service aces by Romina Vacca. Kills by Ranyla Griggs, Nkemjika Ikemefuna and Soleil Cotton propeled the Hawks to a 25-21 win as the teams prepared for the fifth and deciding set.


NCCU appeared to be in full control early on in the fifth with a 9-5 lead but two attacking errors combined with a kill from Derionah Abner and an ace from Ikemefuna knotted the score back up at 9-9. Griggs had three of the next four UMES kills and ace to give her team a 14-12 lead. After two UMES errors tied up the set, 14-14, a block by Anjola Omolewa and Ikemefuna gave the Hawks a 15-14 edge. The Hawks finally sealed the match after a 53 second rally which ended with a Ikemefuna kill to end the match in favor of UMES.


"Tonight was all about energy. We did the right things at the right time," UMES head coach Vanessa Faircloth said. "We felt we had all the momentum and were in control throughout the majority of the night. Our ladies remained focused in the crucial moments and made big plays to get the victory."


Griggs set a new personal best with 19 kills while finishing with a .516 hitting percentage to lead the Hawk attack. Abner, who celebrated her 500th career kill in a ceremony before the match, finished with 12 kills. Ikemefuna recorded 11 kills along with a career-high 13 digs. Anisa Dorlouis led all players with 28 assists and recorded seven kills.


On the Eagles' side, Modlin and Isa Dostal finished with 13 kills each. 


The Hawks continue conference play on Sunday when they host South Carolina State at 1 pm.












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