SUMMARY

The Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks outlasted the Morgan State Bears in five sets behind career days from multiple Hawks.

THE SCORE

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - 3

Morgan State Bears - 2

(23-25, 25-18, 25-18, 19-25, 15-10)

HOW IT HAPPENED

The opening set was by far the closest set of the five. There were 16 ties and six lead changes in the frame, each of which were more than the totals in the final four sets combined. To begin the game, the Hawks and Bears traded the first 12 points to tie the match up, 6-6. As the first set continued, both teams grew more on target with their attack, registering the only set of the day where both teams attacked at above a .250 clip. Ultimately, Morgan State captured three out of the final four points in the opening frame to win, 25-23.

Over the next two sets, UMES remained in control. In the second set, the Hawks leaned on their hitting corps of Ranyla Griggs, Nkemjika Ikemefuna, Lilliana Montes, and Anjola Omolewa to generate attacks. Setter Anisa Dorlouis facilitated the attack with some great sets that allowed her hitters to power the ball cross-court, down the line, and off of the block. To close the set, Montes ripped a ball towards the corner from her middle blocker position to earn the kill. UMES took the second set 25-18.

UMES never trailed in the third set. Compared to the second set, there were much longer rallies as each team began to understand their opponents' hitting tendencies. Valeria Matias and Isil Yilmaz started to get into a solid rhythm with their passes, putting the Hawks in prime positions to stay ahead. In a similar fashion to the second set, a UMES middle blocker scored set point as Omolewa delivered a strong swing to seal the set. The Maroon and Grey won the third set by the exact same score as the second set, 25-18.

The fourth set was the best frame of the day for the Bears. Morgan State put pressure on the UMES defense by attacking spots that forced UMES off balance. The Bears powered past the Hawks in the fourth set, 25-19.

For the third consecutive time in the series, UMES and Morgan State went to a fifth set. Although Morgan State led early, UMES, led by Griggs, remained resilient. The Hawks seized the momentum, scoring 13 of the games final 21 points to ice a thrilling victory. Griggs delivered the finishing blow to Morgan State by skying high to tool an attack off of a pair of Bear blockers, clinching the fifth set, 15-10. 

THE NUMBERS

Lilliana Montes finished with a career high 11 kills. In addition, the freshman middle blocker eclipsed double-digit kills for the first time in her young career.

Nkemjika Ikemefuna tied her career high for kills with 17. This is the second time she has achieved this mark for kills on the road at Morgan State.

Ranyla Griggs totaled 19 kills. This is now the fifth double-digit kill match for the senior outside hitter in her last seven games.

Anisa Dorlouis achieved a career high in assists with 41. Her previous high was 31 assists.

In the Vanessa Faircloth era, UMES has a stellar 9-1 record in five set matches.

With the game on the line in the fifth and final set, UMES hit at a .571 clip while limiting Morgan State to a -.059 percentage.

UP NEXT

With this win over Morgan State, the Hawks improve to a 1-0 record in MEAC play and even up their overall record at 6-6. The Maroon and Grey will look to stay undefeated in league play against Coppin State on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. The game, which is a rematch of the 2023 MEAC Tournament semifinal, will be streamed live on the Delmarva Sports Network.

FOLLOW ALONG

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