Hawks open MEAC play with five set win over Morgan State


PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore volleyball team defeated the Bear of Morgan State in five sets on Friday in the opening match of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play.


With the win, UMES is now 8-5 overall along with the 1-0 record in the MEAC.


UMES edged out a 25-22 win in the first set before the Bears bounced back with a 25-22 victory of their own in the second. With the score tied at 22 in the third set, kills by Nkemjika Ikemefuna and Ranyla Griggs combined with an MSU setting error gave another 25-22 score in favor of the Hawks. The momentum appeared to be in favor of the Hawks in the fourth set with a lead of 16-12. The Bears battled back with the next four points to even up the score. The teams traded points on their way to a 21-21 tie. The Bears seized the set with kills by Makila Billingsley, Jourdan Page and Justyus Jackson as the teams prepare for the fifth and final set of the night.


UMES jumped out to a 4-1 lead and maintained a 10-8 edge. Anjola Omolewa proved to be the difference in the final points as she tallied three kills including the knock out attack to give the Hawks the 15-9 decision and the match.


With two of the top players from the Hawk lineup sitting out of Friday's match due to injury, UMES head coach Vanessa Faircloth emphasized her team's ability to respond to the challenge.


"We are a solid team and we were able to take care of business at home tonight," said Faircloth. "We have been missing some key pieces to our rotation over the last few matches and our ladies answered the challenge and came up with big plays when it mattered most tonight."


UMES sophomore Ranyla Griggs, who was named MEAC Player of the Week on Tuesday, was a strady presence for the Hawk offense with a match-high 17 kills which equals her career-best. Omolewa also tied a UMES career best with 11 kills along with two blocks. Freshman Anisa Dorlouis made her presence known in a variety of ways with 10 kills, two blocks, 20 assists and 11 digs. Valeria Matias led all players with 26 digs as the Hawks finished the night with a season-high 62 digs.


"Anisa has stepped up as both a setter and a hitter as we continue to battle through injuries and lineup changes," Faircloth says. "She has produced in all phases of the game and is really playing some great volleyball as a freshman."


The Bears, who are now 5-11 overall and 0-1 in conference play, were led by a 19 kill performance from Makila Billingsley.


Continuing on their best pace to start a season since 2017, the Hawks continue MEAC competition on the road on Sunday against Coppin State.