Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) coasted to a straight-set victory over Howard Friday evening at the William P. Hytche Athletic Center.

Senior setter Christina Esteban? totaled 27 assists and nine digs and junior outside hitter Whitney Johnson had 10 kills, helping the Lady Hawks stay perfect in MEAC play at 5-0.

With the win, UMES (18-8) is in sole possession of the top spot in the northern division.

"I thought we played well," said Hawks' head coach Don Metil. "It's exciting to see that through the first half of MEAC play, we've beaten all our northern opponents, 3-0. It's an invigorating and energizing feeling that if we just keep sticking to our game plans that we develop for each of our opponents ... we're going to continue to be tough to beat."

The Hawks never trailed in the match and didn't lead by less than two points all night. UMES scored the match's first four points and opened its largest lead of the first set at 22-13 on an attack error by Howard's Gazelle D'Artois. The Hawks took the set, 25-19.

UMES again took the first four points in the second set and closed the set with a nine-point advantage, 25-16 on a block from junior middle blocker Thonya Joseph.

The Hawks dispatched the Bison in the third set by an identical 25-16 tally, not letting the visitors get closer than two in closing out the win.

Freshman Christine Edwards contributed eight kills, while junior Caylin Woodward chipped in with seven digs and five kills. Joseph had five kills herself on six attacks for a .833 hitting percentage.

D'Artois led the Bison attack with seven kills. Nicole Brown Had 10 digs in a losing effort.

The Hawks are back in action Sunday traveling to Baltimore, Md., to take on Morgan State at 3 p.m.