The Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (2-0) defeated the Virginia Wesleyan Marlins in four sets at Hytche Athletic Center.

The Score

Virginia Wesleyan Marlins - 1

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - 3

(25-11, 23-25, 25-15, 25-17)

How It Happened

In the opening set, the Maroon and Grey, highlighted by three service aces and two kills by Tristan Rowley, scored 10 of the first 12 points. After Virginia Wesleyan narrowed the deficit to 15-9, UMES, led by two kills from Joshua Hightower and three blocks from Andre Mills, closed the set with their second 10-2 scoring surge of the frame. 

The second set featured 13 tied scores and four lead changes. Trailing 17-16, UMES took the lead behind back-to-back kills by Jaxon Clark. The visiting Marlins responded by scoring seven of the next 10 points, giving them a 24-21 advantage. Even though the Hawks staved off set point twice with kills by Rowley and Hightower, Virginia Wesleyan capitalized on their third set point opportunity to even the match.

Starting in the third frame, the Hawks never trailed the rest of the match. Reigning NEC Rookie of the Week Chase Valentine, Marcellus Owens, Hightower, Mills, and Rowley each contributed kills en route to the Hawks building a 15-11 advantage. UMES sustained their momentum into the latter half of the set, icing the frame with a 10-4 run.

The Hawks continued to utilize their depth on the attack in set four, generating kills from Kenyon Haynes, Owens, Rowley, and Valentine to build a 14-12 lead. Although the Marlins kept it relatively close to that point in the frame, the Maroon and Grey, spurred on by two kills from Rowley and two service aces from Mills, established an insurmountable lead with a 4-0 scoring surge. The Hawks then finished the match, by scoring five of the final seven points to take the match-clinching fourth set.

The Numbers

• Hightower tied for the team lead in both kills (14) and digs (5)

• Tristan Rowley also recorded 14 kills and paced the Hawks with three service aces

• The Hawks out-blocked the Marlins 9-0. Mills led UMES with six total blocks

• Kenyon Haynes tallied a team-high 46 assists

• Jaxon Clark and Jarrett Key each recorded a team-high five digs

Up Next 

The Hawks travel to South Carolina to take on Erskine College for a two game series starting on Thursday, January, 22 at 6 p.m. EST. The game will not be broadcast, but live stats can be found at erskinesports.com.

Follow Along 

Keep up with the latest from UMES men's volleyball on UMESHawkSports.com and by following along on X (@UMESHawksMVB) and Instagram (@umeshawksmvb).