DUE WEST, South Carolina – The Hawks remain undefeated in their inaugural season as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore earned its third win of the season against Erskine College, 3-0.

The Score 

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks - 3 

Erskine Flying Fleet - 0 

(25-14, 25-19, 26-24) 

How It Happened 

The Erskine Flying Fleet put up the first point of the match and both sides kept an even pace until both were tied at six. At that point, however, UMES elevated its game and took over the opening set on a 19-8 run. The Hawks limited Erskine to only one back-to-back set of points through the run. Tristan Rowley led UMES through the opening set with five kills – including the final two of the set – while Marcellus Owens led the defensive effort with three blocks. Through Set 1, the Hawks had four others record a kill with Andre Mills (4), Joshua Hightower (3), Chase Valentine (2) and Kenyon Haynes (1) putting up points for UMES. 

Throughout the second set, both sides remained in a tighter fight through the opening sequences. Though UMES drew the opening point, the Flying Fleet managed a three-point run to take a 6-3 lead against the Hawks before both sides resumed the deadlock. The Hawks surged past Erskine to take a 13-11 lead amidst a 4-0 run, though, and never relinquished the lead for the remainder of the second set. 

Despite earning the first point of the third set on a service error from Erskine, the Hawks fell behind early and were unable to draw a tie with the Flying Fleet until the final sequences of the set. UMES closed the third set on a 14-5 run, including a 5-0 run when down 19-13. Hightower had the final kill of the match as the Hawks pushed into extra play despite trailing by as much as six points. Milles capped his team-high 11 kills with three more in the set for the Hawks. Hightower, Rowley and Valentine added another two kills apiece while Owens had one more. 

The Numbers 

Andre Mills led UMES in kills with 11 while recording seven blocks and five digs. 

Tristan Rowley added another nine kills to the Hawks' total while recording a team-high eight digs and blocking a shot. 

Kenyon Haynes paced the Hawks with 34 assists while adding a pair of kills, three blocks and four digs for the night. 

As a team, UMES held a 28.8% attacking percentage while limiting Erskine to a 5.5% night.

The Hawks totaled 14 blocks against Erskine wtih Mills and Marcells Owens each recording seven.

The UMES liberos combined for nine digs as Jarrett Key notched six and Edward Piloton Jr recorded another three.

Up Next 

The Hawks play a second game against the Flying Fleet tomorrow at noon before heading to Farifax, Virginia, for a pair of neutral site matches against Ball State and University of Mount Olive on January 30 and 31. 

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).