PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball program is heading into the 2023 season with a roster filled with familiar faces but will see a new head coach at the helm for the first time since 2018.
 
After finishing the 2022 season with a 9-18 (6-8 MEAC) record and the first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament win since 2017, the Hawks are running it back with 11 student-athletes returning from that group. Lyric Snowden returns to the squad after one season away from the program, while also bringing in freshman setter Anisa Dorlouis from Gainesville, Florida.
 
Heading the Hawks
 
On the bench for the Hawks will be Vanessa Faircloth in her first year at the university, coming from Chowan University after two seasons as head coach of the Division 2 Hawks. Faircloth took over a Chowan program that had just six wins in two years and guided her squad to 18 wins over the stint.
 
Faircloth is no stranger to the MEAC, graduating from Norfolk State University in 2015 after two years at Virginia Intermont College. As a Spartan student-athlete, Faircloth was a middle hitter 226 kills, 27 aces and 77 total blocks over the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
 
Next to Faircloth will be assistant Noelle Eagles, a record setting player at Norfolk State in her playing days who has translated that into a stout USAV/AAU coaching career.
 
About the Squad
 
On the attack, UMES brings back its top four scorers in Derionah Abner, Nkemjika Ikemefuna, Charlize Williams and Ranyla Griggs that will allow consistency in the offense.
 
Abner picked up a MEAC All-Tournament Team nod in 2022 with 23 kills over two games just three weeks after being named the MEAC Player of the Week. She led the team with 206 kills and chipped in 34 total blocks.
 
One of the best freshmen last season, Ikemefuna was a MEAC All-Rookie selection after earning two MEAC Rookie of the Week awards while being second on the team with 223 points.
 
Williams put up a great season as she was named Second Team All-MEAC after posting 148 kills and led the team with 88 total blocks. She was on conference leaderboards in 2022 after ranking eighth in the conference at a .284 hitting percentage and second with .94 kills per set.
 
On the outside Griggs kept the offense moving, ranking third on the squad with 158 kills.
 
One of the biggest losses felt will be in the passing offense as Sophia Chacon led the Hawks with 510 of their 1009 assists. Fortunately, Romina Vacca returns after putting up 319 herself, giving UMES an experienced Division 1 setter that has rapport with the current hitters.
 
The freshman Dorlouis is expected to step in immediately as Vacca's protégé but brings immediately brings in a pedigree of back-to-back state championships in Florida during high school. At 5'8" she will be able to work well into the rotation as a right side hitter in a pinch as well.
 
Soleil Cotton should see improved time in the rotation after being a difference maker for the Hawks down the stretch, picking up six kills at a .750 hitting percentage and a block off the bench in two of the last four games.
 
Middle blockers Anjola Omolewa and Shanti Ramdeen will also play crucial roles off the bench for the Hawks.
 
Defensively the Hawks will have the back court covered by returning libero/defensive specialist Valeria Matias and Isil Yilmaz. Yilmaz ranked seventh in the MEAC with 3.07 digs per set and Matias had 2.69, putting her just behind.
 
Glancing at the Schedule
 
The Hawks will kick off the season at UNC-Asheville to play the Bulldogs twice, as well as Alabama A&M, while also getting a glimpse at North Carolina Central University who will also be in attendance. A midweek meeting at Villanova will wrap up August for UMES.
 
Tournament time continues through September, first at American to take on the Eagles, Marist and Central Connecticut State University. UMES will then host Gardner-Webb, Quinnipiac and Hampton in the Henson Hawk Invitational before heading to Tarleton State for the Texans, Texas Southern and UC Riverside to conclude out of conference play.
 
MEAC play starts with Morgan State at home on September 22 and the Hawks will also play their final regular season match at home against Delaware State on November 10.
 
Scouting the Weekend
 
The Hawks kick off the season in North Carolina against UNC-Asheville, a squad that 4-22 in 2022 and is expected to finish eighth in the Big South. The Bulldogs also have a first-year head coach in Amber Haver and return 11 players from last season but have brought in 19 new players for a wealth of young depth.
 
Five Bulldogs return with 54 sets or more played in 2022 in Ona Elkins, Guilia Rodrigues, Avery Loebeck, Allison Ryann and M.K. Roberts, while no others saw more then 30 sets. Rodrigues was key on defense, leading the team with 383 digs, while Loebeck and Ryann provide solid overall games to improve the team.
 
Another set of Bulldogs await the Hawks this weekend as well, taking on Alabama A&M for a match on Saturday afternoon. A&M went 7-26 in 2022 and are led by sophomore Bailey Duckett, a preseason All-SWAC honoree.
 
How to Follow
 
All three games for the Hawks opening weekend will be streamed on ESPN+, with Live Stats also available, with links on the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Athletics website. As always, follow the action on Twitter via @ESHawksVBall for live updates and analysis.