The South Carolina State Lady Bulldogs, University of Maryland Eastern Shore Lady Hawks, Florida A&M Lady Rattlers and Delaware State Lady Hornets advanced to the semifinal round in the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championship Tournament at the Physical Education Complex on the campus of Coppin State University.
In the first match of the day, South Carolina State defeated Howard 3-1 (25-18, 25-27, 25-23, 25-23).
Senior Jarne Gleaton, the 2010 MEAC Player of the Year, put down a game-high 21 kills with seven digs and two service aces for SC State (15-22). Freshman Desire Waller had 11 kills and sophomore libero Melissa Robinson picked up 11 digs for the Lady Bulldogs. Junior setter Bria Brimmer ran an effective offense with 39 set assists.
Howard (8-20) had two players to record double-digit kills led by Tosin Elebute with 19. Keri Partridge put down 13 kills and Gazelle d'Artois picked up a team-high 11 digs in the loss
#1 Maryland Eastern Shore and #3 Bethune-Cookman competed in the second match of the day. The Lady Hawks (20-11) were led by 2010 MEAC Rookie of the Year Maline Vaitai and Zoe Bowens who each contributed 13 kills. Vaitai and Bowens added six and nine digs, respectively in the victory.
Krysta Gardner led Bethune-Cookman (7-27) in the loss with 12 kills. Defensively, Jessica Wilson tallied 10 digs.
Florida A&M won the third match of the evening with a 3-0 sweep of Morgan State. The defending MEAC champion Rattlers were led by freshman Katherine Huanec who posted a match-high 21 kills. Susan Egoavil and Pamela Barrea guided the defensive effort with 18 and 11 digs, respectively.
In the last match of the day, the DSU Lady Hornets defeated Norfolk State, 3-0. Sarah Wheatcroft led DSU with 13 kills on 26 attacks.
Charlotte Armstead aided the Spartans in the loss. Armstead hit 47-percent from the floor with 10 kills.
Florida A&M and Delaware State will meet in the semifinals tomorow at 3:30 p.m.
Admission for the championship tournament is $5 for adults and $3 for students, children under the age of 11, and senior citizens. Tickets are available at Coppin State's Physical Education Complex the day of the event.
For more information on MEAC volleyball or other sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACsports.com.
-www.MEACsports.com-