Looking to build on last year's MEAC Tournament semifinal appearance, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's volleyball team enters 2025 with a roster of 12 returning players and five newcomers.
"Up to this point, we have mainly worked on individual skills and making sure we are technically sound," said head coach Vanessa Faircloth. "Now it is time to put the puzzle pieces together."
Heading the Hawks
Faircloth is in her third year with the Hawks with a 28-27 record across two seasons, including a 12-15 mark last season. In both seasons, the Hawks have advanced to the MEAC Tournament semifinals while going 14-14 in conference play in the regular season.
Senior Leaders
Valeria Matias is a libero/defensive specialist for the Hawks, who has amassed 772 career digs. In 2024, she appeared in 49 sets across 13 matches for the Hawks at libero. Despite having her 2024 season cut short due to injury, the senior from Ponce, Puerto Rico finished second on the team in digs with 188.
Anjola Omolewa is a middle blocker for UMES, posting 348 kills and 163 blocks across 65 career matches. In 2024, she led the team and finished third in the MEAC with a .342 attack percentage, finished second on the team with 68 blocks and third on the team with 165 kills.
Nkemjika Ikemefuna is an outside hitter for the Hawks who garnered All-MEAC Second Team and MEAC All-Academic honors in 2024. She has 650 career kills, 328 career digs,102 total blocks and 52 service aces. In 2024, she finished second on the team with 219 kills and fourth on the team with 102 digs.
Tola Maczka is a defensive specialist and setter with the Hawks. Maczka finished second on the team with 109 assists in 2024.
Returners
Among the Hawks' 12 returning players, Lilliana Montes, a sophomore middle blocker, also garnered postseason honors after the 2024 season. Montes earned MEAC All-Rookie honors and joined Ikemefuna as the two returning All-MEAC players.
The full list of returners:
1 | Valeria Matias | 5-4 | Libero/DS | Senior
4 | Jocelyn Torres | 5-7 | Setter | Sophomore
5 | Alivia Proctor | 5-7 | DS | Sophomore
7 | Jayda Hutchins | 5-7 | Setter | Freshman
8 | Kyra Bradford | 5-9 | RS | Freshman
9 | Anjola Omolewa | 5-10 | MB | Senior
12 | Nkemjika Ikemefuna | 5-11 | OH | Senior
13 | Rayah Howell | 5-10 | MB | Sophomore
15 | Jaelyn Stewart | 5-8 | DS | Sophomore
18 | Lilliana Montes | 6-4 | MB | Sophomore
19 | Tola Maczka | 5-9 | Setter/DS | Senior
21 | Gabrielle McCoy | 5-10 | OP | Sophomore
Newcomers
After 11 new players joined the roster last year, Coach Faircloth added five new players to the 2025 roster:
3 | Kate-Linh Eden | 6-0 | Setter | Junior
10 | Arianna Warner | 5-3 | Setter/DS | Junior
11 | Karielys Melendez | 5-8 | OH/DS | Junior
14 | Margarette Vasquez | 5-4 | DS | Freshman
17 | Malaysia Shaw | 5-9 | MB/RS | Freshman
Schedule
The Hawks play 27 matches in 2025, 14 of which are conference games. Maryland Eastern Shore plays seven home matches, 12 road matches and eight neutral site matches.
"We are intentional about having a tough and physical non-conference schedule," said Faircloth. "If we challenge ourselves from day one, we never get complacent. By the time MEAC play rolls around, we are in the swing of things and know what good competition looks like."
The Maroon and Grey begin the season taking on East Carolina, Florida A&M and Hampton at the Hampton Tournament Aug. 29 and 30. UMES continues on the road against American on Sept. 2 before traveling west to take on Montana State, Gonzaga and CSU Bakersfield at the Gonzaga Tournament in Spokane, Washington, from Sept. 4 to Sept. 6.
UMES then heads back east to take on Virginia Tech, Marshall and Robert Morris at the Virginia Tech Tournament in Blacksburg, Virginia, Sept. 12 and 13. The Hawks conclude a non-conference slate with matchups against Ohio, Furman and Charlotte at the Charlotte Invitational Sept. 19 and 20.
The Hawks begin MEAC play with five of their first seven matches on the road.
"Every game is a rivalry game in the MEAC," said Faircloth. "We prepare our team from day one to be ready for that excitement. No matter whose gym we go into, it is going to be loud, so we have to be louder."
The Maroon and Grey begin conference play at South Carolina State in Orangeburg, South Carolina, on Sept. 26 and North Carolina Central in Durham, North Carolina, on Sept. 28.
UMES hosts Norfolk State for its home opener on Oct. 3 before a trip to Washington, D.C., to take on Howard on Oct. 5. The Hawks host Coppin State Oct. 10 ahead of a two-game road trip at Morgan State on Oct. 12 and at Delaware State on Oct. 17.
After a bye week, UMES will host South Carolina State on Oct. 24 and North Carolina Central on Oct. 26. Next, the Hawks travel to Norfolk State on Oct. 31 before a home matchup against Howard on Nov. 2. UMES closes its road slate with a match at Coppin State on Nov. 7 and concludes the regular season with home matches against Morgan State on Nov. 9 and Delaware State on Nov. 14.
All eight teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference will qualify for the MEAC Tournament. The Hawks will aim to win the MEAC crown and qualify for their first postseason tournament since their 2017 National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) berth.
"We are always big on energy. This year's team has been very energetic," Faircloth said. "Practices are going well, players are really battling, and our five new players seem ready to step in from day one. We are competing everyday in practice, and that is what's going to make us better."
Follow Along
Keep up with the latest from UMES volleyball on UMESHawkSports.com and by following along on Twitter (@UMESHawksVball) and Instagram (@umeshawksvball).
