FRANKFORT, Kentucky — In the first of a doubleheader for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore as a part of a tri-match, the Hawks went toe-to-toe against Oakland City University, but came up just short in a 3-1 loss 

The Score 

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (7-4) - 1 

Oakland City University Mighty Oaks (7-2) - 3 

(22-25, 25-21, 20-25, 23-25) 

How It Happened 

From the beginning, neither side relented or gave room for error as the score remained gridlocked the entirety of the match. UMES struck first with a kill from Chase Valentine, but the point was immediately answered by the Might Oaks. This pattern of call and response stayed through the course of the match as a three-point lead was the largest margin either side was able to attain in Set 1. The Hawks earned their largest lead, 14-11, on the heels of a kill by Andre Mills followed by an ace from Mills on the ensuing serve, and finally a block by Marcellus Owens and Kenyon Haynes. UMES took a 21-19 lead, but fell behind as Oakland City scored five straight points before a UMES answer before taking the set 25-22. 

Though initially closely contested, UMES went on an early run against the Might Oaks in Set 2 with a 9-0 run to take a 11-4 lead. While Oakland City fought back to bring the score incrementally closer, the Hawks maintained their momentum as they closed out the set with kills from across the floor with John Howard, Jaxon Clark, Tavion Ford, Marcellus Owens and Valentine getting in on the offensive action. UMES put away set on a pair of service errors from Oakland City to take Set 1 25-21. 

Once again, UMES got on the board first in Set 3 with Ford getting an assist from Kenyon Haynes for the kill. However, similar to the first set, neither side managed to separate themselves from the other much of the set as the largest margin of the set of five points only came with the set point when Oakland City took the set 25-20. 

UMES jumped on the board first for the third time to begin a set as Mills kicked the scoring off for the Hawks before Oakland City committed an attacking error as UMES took a 2-0 lead. Each side went on short runs and traded the lead, including a three-point run for UMES with Mills and Clark getting kills and Oakland City committing another attacking error to give the Hawks an 8-7 lead. Oakland City, though, regained the lead and took put some distance from UMES, 15-10, with a 4-0 run. The Hawks brought the score close once more as they trailed by two, 19-17, with a pair of errors from the Mighty Oaks and a service ace from Howard. UMES knotted the score at 22 apiece and again at 23, but the Hawks could not hold off Oakland City as the last two points went to the Mighty Oaks in a 25-23 final set. 

The Numbers 

• John Howard III led UMES in kills with 10, though seven total Hawks recorded a kill against the Mighty Oaks. Chase Valentine and Tavion Ford each recorded nine while Jaxon Clark and Andre Mills each added another six. 

• UMES maintained a kill percentage of 12.3% to Oakland City's 22.2%. 

• Kenyon Haynes put up 36 assists for the Hawks, while Edward Piloton Jr and Curtis Tom each added a pair. 

• The liberos were led by Jarrett Key with four digs while Piloton Jr added another one. 

• Howard III added eight more digs for the Hawks while Kenyon Haynes added another six and Jaxon Clark five. 

• Marcellus Owens was credited on a team-high four total blocks while Chase Valentine was in on another three. 

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