WASHINGTON, DC – Progress was shown by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team on Friday, September 1 at the American University Tournament, but the Hawks were unable to come away with wins against Marist and the Eagles in two matches.
 
Red Foxes Pounce on Hawks
 
The Hawks held tough in the first match of the tournament against Marist in the first set until the Red Foxes were able to go on a four-point run to tie it at 17-all. In response, the Hawks were able to go on a tear themselves to get up by four until Marist took over with five straight and take the lead.
 
Both squads would exchange points until Marist grabbed the edge and the set off of a kill 23-25.
 
Marist was able to use big runs in the second set to drown the Hawks, taking the set from UMES 15-25.
 
In the third the Red Foxes were able to do the same early on, jumping out to a 9-18 lead on the Hawks until UMES was able to slow the set down. Unfortunately for the Hawks, runs of three and four points were unable to make up the early deficit.
 
Leading the squad offensively through the match was Derionah Abner and her 15 kills, Nkemjika Ikemefuna added ten. Romina Vacca put up quality passes, finishing with 23 assists.
 
Eagles Get Best of Hawks
 
In the second match of the day the Hawks were able to keep it tight again but were unable to come away with a set against American.
 
During the first, American jumped out to a four-point lead until the Hawks were able to tie it up at 12-all and take the lead on an Eagle attack error. Both sides exchanged blows following the UMES comeback only for American to put it away on back-to-back kills.
 
The Hawks started hot in the second set against the Eagles but allowed too many runs and allowing two big comebacks due to blocking and hitting errors. A surge back in the late games wouldn't be enough, as UMES fell 20-25.
 
American grabbed an early five-point lead against the Hawks in the third set and also went on a run of five-points until life was found by UMES. Stringing together a few runs themselves, the Hawks got as close as 23-all but two kills by American closed out any chance of a win.
 
Ranyla Griggs controlled the offense against American, finishing with 10 kills; Abner had six and Ikemefuna five. Ikemefuna also aided with four block assists, Anjola Omolewa also had four and two aces.
 
Wrapping Up the Weekend
 
The Hawks wrap up week two of the season with Central Connecticut State University in the first meeting ever with the Blue Devils. CCSU fell in five sets to Marist on Friday where three Blue Devils went into double digits in kills.
 
Game time for the Hawks' weekend closer is set for 2:00 p.m., with Live Stats available through American University and updates on Twitter via @ESHawksVBall.