Box Score Hawks fall to Coppin State in MEAC semifinals; finish season with 16-12 overall record


DOVER, Delaware - Coppin State University defeated the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in three sets (25-19, 25-20, 25-18) in the MEAC Volleyball Championship semifinals at Memorial Hall Gym. 

The top-seeded Eagles (26-4) advance to the MEAC Championship match for the second consecutive year while the Hawks wrap up their season with a 16-12 overall record. In her first season as the UMES head coach, Vanessa Faircloth helped the Hawks to a 7-win improvement from a season ago.


Coming off an emotional five set win over Norfolk State on Friday, UMES got off to a slow start against CSU, falling behind 5-1 in the first set. Coppin State pulled away to an 20-10 lead and eventually took the first set, 25-19.

Set two was much closer at the start of the set as the teams traded points and remained tied through the 11th point for each side. The Eagles put down for consecutive points to lead 15-11. The Hawks battled back to even the score at 16 all on a kill from Anjola Omolewa. Coppin State strung together three more consecutive points before Maryland Eastern Shore put down a pair putting the score at 19-18. The Eagles closed out the set on a 6-2 run claiming set two, 25-20. 

The beginning of set three was like set two where the teams were back-and-forth even through the first six points on each side. A trio of kills for Ranyla Griggs gave the Hawks an 8-6 lead and UMES continued to pull ahead 12-8 following a few Hawk kills and Eagle errors. Coppin State climbed back into the set on a 4-0 run to even the score at 12 all and they took the 18-14 lead after going on a 6-2 rally. UMES scored back-to-back points on a kill from Soleil Cotton and a CSU error, but Coppin State closed out the set on a 7-2 run claiming set three 25-18 and the match in three sets. 

Nkemjika Ikemefuna led the Hawks (16-12) with 11 kills and added four blocks and five digs. Derionah Abner, who was selected to the MEAC All-Conference Team prior to the tournament, finished with five kills along with teammate Ranyla Griggs.