LOS ANGELES -The best volleyball season in University of Maryland Eastern Shore history came to a close as the Hawks fell to 9-seed UCLA (12-25, 12-25, 9-25) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the John Wooden Center.  UMES, playing in its first match ever in the NCAA Tournament, finishes the season at 24-7.  UCLA moves onto the second round to face San Diego, going to 25-6.

After UCLA began the first set on a 5-0 run, UMES got their first ever NCAA point off a combined block from Saitaua Iosia and Maline Vaitai.  The Hawks got to within three at 7-4, capped by a pair of points from Iosia with a kill and ace.  UMES and UCLA exchanged a couple of points each with Iosia and Victoria Williams each getting a kill, when the Bruins took five of six points to build a 15-8 lead.  The Hawks got back to within five at 16-11 capped by a Williams solo block, but a 8-0 UCLA run sealed the first set to the Bruins 25-12.

Kaveinga Lea'Aetoa tied the score at one with a kill going into the second set.  UCLA took nine of the next 12 points to go up 10-4.  The Hawks got back to five off a kill from Zoe Bowens, but could not close the gap as the Bruins won 25-12 to take a two-set lead.

UMES took their first lead in a set in game three, using an Iosia kill and Jessie Vicic service ace to start 2-1.  The Hawks also led 3-2, but UCLA went on a 7-0 run for a 9-3 Bruins lead.  Kills from Lea'Aetoa and Maline Vaitai cut the deficit to four, but another UCLA run, this one 6-0, made the UMES deficit at ten.  The Hawks were defeated in set three 25-9 to fall to UCLA in the match.  It is the only time this season the Hawks lost a true road match.

Iosia led the Hawks with four kills, adding three digs, two blocks and an ace.  Lea'Aetoa and Vaitai each had three kills.  In her final match as a Hawk, Bowens had three kills and as many digs.  Rebecca Prado led the Hawks in digs with five in her last match in a UMES uniform.  Ndidi Ibe led UMES with three blocks, adding a kill.

Rachael Kidder led UCLA with 11 kills with five digs and three blocks.  Tabi Love recorded eight kills while Sara Sage got six kills with three blocks.

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