Hampton sweeps pair at North Carolina Central Invitational
DURHAM, N.C. – Resiliency was the name of the game on Saturday at McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium, as the Lady Pirates came from behind twice in winning matches against Evansville and Murray State to go unbeaten in the North Carolina Central Invitational.
Hampton (3-0) came back to beat Evansville 3-2 (24-26, 22-25, 25-14, 25-22, 15-9), before defeating Murray State 3-1 (24-26, 27-25, 25-20, 27-25).
This is Hampton’s best start to a season since 2005, when the Lady Pirates opened the year with four straight wins. It’s also the first time since 2005 (Hampton University Labor Day Tournament) that the Lady Pirates won a regular-season tournament.
Junior rightside Vendula Strakova was named Tournament MVP, while senior middle blocker Petra Parros was also named to the All-Tournament Team.
Three Lady Pirates had double-doubles against Evansville, led by 26 kills and a team-high 24 digs from Strakova. Junior outside hitter Krista Kraskura added 18 kills and 16 digs, committing just three errors for a .366 hitting percentage, while senior setter Bibiany Fonseca had a career-high 60 assists and 12 digs.
Against Murray State, Strakova led the way against Murray State with 25 kills and four service aces, while Maksimovic added 14 kills and hit .387 for the match. Parros had the best match of her collegiate career, recording a career-high 17 kills and just one error to hit .571.
Fonseca had 50 of Hampton’s 55 assists, while Kraskura had 12 digs on defense.
For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com
Waller Earns All-Tournament Honors at Gamecock Invitational
COLUMBIA, S.C.—The South Carolina State women’s volleyball team opened its 2013 campaign, going 0-3 in the Gamecock Invitational, hosted by the University of South Carolina. The contest, which was played Friday-Saturday, Aug. 30-31, was contested at the Volleyball Competition Center on the campus of the University of South Carolina. Senior Desire Waller was named to the All-Tournament Team.
In its opening match of the tournament on Friday, SC State fell to host the University of South Carolina, 3-0, (25-14, 25-9, 25-13). Waller recorded 10 kills in the match to lead SC State. The second match on the day was a little more competitive as the Lady Bulldogs fell to High Point University, 3-0, (25-20, 25-18, 25-16). Waller once again led the team in kills with 10.
SC State closed out the tournament with a three-set loss to Florida International on Saturday, (25-23, 25-17, 25-17). Waller remained consistent as she recorded 21 kills and 6 digs in the match.
Coppin State opens season with loss to Hofstra
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - Kendra Ireigbe had four kills and three blocks and Nicole Malave had a career-high nine kills, but Coppin State dropped a 27-25, 25-12, 25-21 decision to Hofstra on Saturday in the Eagles season opener at the Hofstra Asics Invitational.
Ireigbe had four kills in four attempts for a 1.000 attack percentage, while Malave had nine kills in 19 attempts with two errors for a .368 attack percentage. Ireigbe and Malave combined to hit .478 for the match, but the rest of the team hit only .065.
Malave topped her previous career high of five kills set last season against Bryant.
Hornets drop pair in season-opening tournament
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. - The Delaware State University volleyball team opened the 2013 season with losses to Hofstra and St. Francis (N.Y.) by 3-0 scores at the Hofstra Asics Invitational in this weekend.
The Hornets fell to Hofstra 25-13, 25-12, 25-19 in the tournament opener against Hofstra. Jessica Russell-Croucher and Edarkis Branch led DSU with seven kills each. Russell-Croucher also topped the team with six digs, while Natalia Mendieta had a team-high 10 assists.
Delaware State was upended by St. Francis 25-20, 30-28, 25-18. Jasmine Jackson topped the Hornets with 17 kills (.171 pct), while Russell-Croucher added 10. Mendieta again led the team with 27 assists, while Sonya Inderbitzen had a team-high 10 digs.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com
Lady Wildcats conclude FAU Invitational with loss
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Rhea Simon had eight kills and six digs as Bethune-Cookman concluded play in the FAU Invitational with a 3-0 (25-17,25-22,25-17) loss to the host Owls Saturday afternoon.
Thomas and freshman Lauren Turner (five kills) were named to the all-tournament team.
Freshman setter Alexas Thomas posted a double-double of 24 kills and 14 digs while Destiny Hudson added six kills and Delicia Pierre four kills and three services aces for B-CU.
For complete story, visit www.BCUathletics.com
North Carolina A&T drops pair at Radford Invitational
RADFORD, Va. – Sophomore Aleena McDaniel recorded nine kills, seven digs and had five total blocks in what was the Aggies most competitive match of the Radford Invitational over the weekend. Despite McDaniel’s performance, the Aggies lost to Eastern Kentucky in three sets (25-22, 25-18, 25-18) in their second match on Saturday at the Dedmon Center.
The Aggies lost to Kennesaw State in three sets earlier in the day, 25-12, 25-12, 25-18. McDaniel had eight kills and 10 digs in the loss to KSU, helping her earn all-tournament honors.
For complete story, visit www.ncataggies.com