South Carolina State advanced to the championship final of the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament with a 3-1 victory over the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Saturday afternoon at the PEC on the campus of Coppin State University.
SC State (16-22) opened the first set on a 5-1 run before UMES (20-12) put its offense in motion. The Lady Hawks used a 4-2 run to pull within two of the Lady Bulldogs at 7-5. SC State managed to increase its margin to seven, 18-11, before going on to take the set 25-21.
The Lady Bulldogs continued its aggression at the start of set two and scored five straight points. SC State went up 8-2 before UMES began to make its run. The Lady Hawks battled its way back to within three, 15-12, midway thru the set, but could not get any closer, giving the Lady Bulldogs the 25-17 victory and the two set lead heading into intermission.
After intermission, UMES came out offensive minded. The Lady Hawks began Set Three on an 8-2 run and increased its lead margin to eight, 16-8. SC State would not be outdone, as they went on a 9-2 run to pull within one at 17-18. The Lady Hawks managed to fight through the run and hold on to take Set Three, 25-23.
After exchanging points begin the fourth set, UMES appeared to have taken control of the set going up by two, 10-8. The Lady Bulldogs quickly tied the game at 10 all. The teams once again exchanged points until two attack errors by UMES late in the set gave SC State the 27-25 Set Four win and the match, 3-1.
Senior Jarne Gleaton and freshman Desire Waller led the Lady Bulldogs offensive with 13 kills each. Junior Bria Brimmer continued to run an effective offense as she recorded a double-double, 44 set assists and 12 digs. Sophomore Melissa Robinson led the team defensively with a game-high 14 digs. Junior Tiffané Jackson had her best game of the season as she put down nine kills with six total blocks (1 solo-5 assist) and a hitting percentage of .818.
UMES had three players to record double-digit kills led by Maline Vaitai with 18. Zoe Bowens recorded 12 and Kaveinga Lea'Aetoa added 11 kills in the match. Rebecca Prado led the team defensively with 13 kills.
SC State will face the winner of the Florida A&M/Delaware State Semi-final tomorrow at 12 noon. The championship finale will be video streamed live for free on the conference website www.MEACsports.com.
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.