Game 1 Summary

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Maryland Eastern Shore (2-6) lost to Virginia Tech (7-1) in four sets at Cassell Coliseum.

The Score

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - 1

Virginia Tech Hokies - 3

(11-25, 25-18, 25-27, 18-25)

How It Happened

The hosting Hokies sprinted to a 16-4 lead in the opening frame, generating a 6-0 and an 8-0 run to create separation. Virginia Tech controlled set one en route to a 25-11 victory in set one.

In set two, UMES usurped the momentum of the match. Trailing 5-7, the Hawks went on a 14-4 run. The scoring surge was highlighted by four kills from Lilliana Montes and three kills from Anjola Omolewa. Although Virginia Tech got back within four, UMES closed the set scoring five of the final seven points, culminating in a kill by Rayah Howell to clinch a 25-18 win in the second frame.

The third set was the most evenly-matched of the game. Neither team separated from the other by more than four points throughout the set. Late in the set, the Hokies built a 21-17 lead before the Hawks fought back to go ahead 24-23. Virginia Tech scored four of the next five to edge out UMES 27-25 in set three.

Although UMES sprung out to a 5-2 advantage to open the set, Virginia Tech took the lead for good with a 10-1 run. The Hokies controlled the rest of the match, finishing off the Hawks with a 25-18 win in set four.

The Numbers

• In kills, the Hawks outhit the Hokies 49-44

• In blocks, Virginia Tech registered 12 blocks to just five by UMES

• Valeria Matias finished with 18 digs. She has registered double-digit digs in seven out of the eight matches this season. Matias also tied her career-high with nine assists

• Jocelyn Torres set a new career-high with 14 assists

• Jayda Hutchins paced the Hawks with 23 assists

• Howell recorded a season-high nine kills at a team-high .294 attack percentage

• Karielys Melendez tied her season-high with 13 digs and also added nine kills

• Tola Maczka tied her career-high with a team-high three service aces

Game 2 Summary

Maryland Eastern Shore (2-7) was defeated by Marshall (6-4) in four sets at Cassell Coliseum.

The Score

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - 1

Marshall Thundering Herd  - 3

(19-25, 21-25, 25-21, 23-25)

How It Happened

Marshall opened the match with a 10-1 run. Although UMES fought back with a 7-2 run to get within three, the Thundering Herd scored four of the final five points to clinch set one.

In the second frame, Marshall once again started the set strong, racing out to a 10-5 lead. The Hawks answered with a 6-2 run, highlighted by two kills from Rayah Howell and a pair of aces by Anjola Omolewa. Leading 12-11, the Herd generated a 6-1 run to balloon their lead to six. Although UMES tried to stage a late comeback with back-to-back kills from Karielys Melendez and Nkemjika Ikemefuna, Marshall held on for a 25-21 win in set two.

The Hawks had an efficient third set with a .432 attack percentage as a team. Maryland Eastern Shore began the frame with a 10-5 run, featuring three kills from Ikemefuna, two kills from Malaysia Shaw, and two kills from Melendez. Marshall fought back to take the lead 20-19 before UMES closed a 25-21 victory in the set set by scoring six of the final seven behind four kills from Ikemefuna.

The Herd and Hawks played a back-and-forth final set with 14 ties. With the score 23-23, Marshall scored consecutive points to clinch a 25-23 in set four.

The Numbers

• In kills, the Hawks outhit the Thundering Herd 61-57

• In serves, Marshall recorded eight service aces to just three by UMES

• Ikemefuna paced the Hawks with a season-high 19 kills. This is the most kills that any Hawk has had in a single match this season

• Howell tied her career-high for kills with 10

• Melendez posted 12 kills and 11 digs to record her second doule-double of the season 

• Jayda Hutchins registered a career-high 45 assists, beating her previous career-best of 26. This is the most assists that any individual MEAC setter has had in a single game in 2025

• Valeria Matias finished with a season-high 23 digs. This is her most digs in a single march since 2023. Matias also eclipsed 900 digs for her career

Up Next

Saturday, Sept. 13 | 12 p.m.
UMES (2-7) vs. Robert Morris (1-6) | Live Stats

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