FAIRFAX, Virginia – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks met the challenge of No. 10 Ball State in a neutral site match hosted at George Mason. However, the Hawk were unable to overcome the Cardinals as UMES lost in three straight sets. 

The Score 

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (4-1) - 0 

Ball State Cardinals (7-1) - 3 

(16-25, 19-25, 15-25) 

How It Happened 

The Hawks earned the first point of Set 1 with an ace from Andre Mills. However, Ball State took its first lead with two straight points. UMES tied the score at 2 apiece, and again at 3, but that was the final deadlock of the first set as Ball State went on a pair of back-to-back points before the Hawks stopped the Cardinals' offense. Though the Cardinals managed a 15-10 lead, UMES came within reach on a three-point streak with a kill from Tristan Rowley and a pair of aces from Marcellus Owens to bring the score to 15-13. Ball State closed the set, though, with four straight points to take it 25-16. 

Once again Mills put the Hawks on the board first in Set 2 with a kill on an assist from Kenyon Haynes. From there, though, each side traded blows with neither side gaining ground through the first half of the set. The Hawks led 10-9, but the Cardinals managed three straight points to take a lead they never relinquished the remainder of the set as UMES lost the set 25-19. 

For the third straight start of a set, the Hawks got on the board first, this time courtesy a block by Chase Valentine. That was the last time the Hawks led in the set, though, as Ball State scored the next three points and managed to keep its distance from UMES despite a few close calls when the Hawks climbed back 8-6 and against at 11-8. A pair of multi-point streaks for the Cardinals, however, pushed the set out of reach as the Hawks dropped the final set 25-15. 

The Numbers 

• Andre Mills and Tristan Rowley each notched 11 kills to lead the Hawks' offensive attack. Rowley managed to maintain a 42.9 hitting percentage on 21 total attempts. 

• Kenyon Haynes paced the Hawks with 28 assists while adding a kill and a block. 

• The Hawks recorded two blocks across the three sets with Haynes and Chase Valentine recording the two. 

• As a team, UMES held a hitting percentage of 23.0% for the match compared to Ball State's 56.3%. 

Up Next 

The Hawks will return to the Recreation Athletic Complex to play the hosting George Mason Patriots at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 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).