LORETTO, Pennsylvania — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore lost 3-0 in its second NEC road match against Saint Francis after dropping a first match by the same score the day before. 

The Score 

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (12-7, 2-2 NEC) - 0 

Saint Francis Red Flash (9-8, 3-1) - 3 

(22-25, 23-25, 17-25) 

How It Happened 

Neither side gave any ground through the first half of the Set 1 Saturday. The Hawks had the longest streak of points through the opening sequences with three in-a-row to take a 11-10 lead, spearheaded by kills from Nikilas Blumenstock and Andre Mills. From there on, however, a single four-point run for Saint Francis on the ensuing series of engagements was the longest series of offensive success from either side in the opening set. While the Red Flash pushed to set point, 24-19, the Hawks kept in contention to close the set with a kill from Mills followed by blocks from Curtis Tom and Chase Valentine, followed by another from Valentine to draw within two before Saint Francis took the final set winning point. 

Though the Hawks took the opening point of Set 2, the Red Flash jumped out to a five-point lead, 7-2, early on. UMES, though, battled back to a 7-8 deficit on a four-point run highlighted by a kill from Mills and a combo block from Blumenstock and Joshua Hightower. The Hawks took an 11-10 lead shortly after will two kills from Mills, one from John Howard and an attacking error on the part of the Red Flash. The remainder of the set remained a battle for supremacy as Saint Francis pulled just ahead of the Hawks to take it 25-23. 

The Red Flash took the initial lead in Set 3, but UMES battled back quickly as another Hightower kill leveled the score at 3-3. Despite multiple back-to-back sequences of points for UMES throughout the remainder of the set, the Hawks could not catch up with the early success for Saint Francis as the hosts took Set 3 25-17. 

The Numbers 

• Andre Mills led the Hawks in kills and digs with 12 and 11, respectively, in the effort. He also recorded three block assists. 

• John Howard III and Joshua Hightower each recorded seven kills while notching five and four digs, respectively. 

• Chase Valentine led the Hawks' defensive efforts with a blocked shot and five block assists. 

• Curtis Tom put up 29 assists for UMES through its second game against Saint Francis. 

Up Next 

The Hawks remain on the road at Daemen on March 27 and 28. 

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).