Balanced Eagles cruise past Delaware State, 3-0
DOVER, Del. – Fueled by a total of 53 kills, Coppin State cruised past host Delaware State, 3-0, in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division volleyball match at Memorial Hall Friday night.
Coppin State (9-9 overall, 3-2 MEAC North) won its second consecutive match. Coppin State had three players finish with double-digit kills for the second time in its last three matches. The Eagles enjoyed a season-best .538 hitting percentage for the match. This was the Eagles’ third consecutive match in which they finished with at least 50 kills as a team.
Leading Coppin State’s lean-mean killing machine was junior Kendra Ireigbe, who had a season-high 13 kills along with an insane .929 hitting percentage.
Senior Nicole Malave-Adams also enjoyed a memorable performance by smashing a season-high 11 kills to go along with a .391 hitting percentage. Junior Cindy Okpegbue joined the double-digit kill party with 10 on 17 attacks (.588 hitting percentage). She also contributed eight digs.
Junior Kandace Thomas was her usual stellar self with nine kills and a .692 hitting percentage. She entered the match against the Hornets second in the MEAC in hitting percentage. Senior Ariel Richard added eight kills to raise her career total to 1,118. Overall, the quintet of Ireigbe, Malave-Adams, Okpegbue, Thomas and Richard combined for 96.2 percent of the Eagles kills.
Junior setter Chelsee Sauni had a blast setting up her teammates throughout the match. She finished with 42 of Coppin State’s 48 assists on the evening. Sauni also had Coppin State’s two other kills and its only service ace of the match. Senior Gabrielle Otero had a team-high 15 digs. Overall, seven different Eagle players finished with at least one dig against the Hornets.
Jasmine Jackson led Delaware State (0-15, 0-5) with 10 kills. The setting tandem of Taylor Marshall (18 assists) and Natalia Mendieta combined for 31 assists for the Lady Hornets.
Heading into Sunday’s home showdown against Howard, the Eagles have won three of their last four matches. The match starts at 3 p.m. and it’s the Eagles’ annual “Dig Pink” match. Delaware State hosts Norfolk State Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.dsuhornets.com
Hawks continue to slide with defeat at hands of Lady Bearts
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. — Looking to snap a three game losing streak, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) was treated to a raucous Friday night crowd as the Hawks hosted their annual Dig Pink game.
Unfortunately the Bears of Morgan State ended up with the final celebrations on the Hytche Center floor as they defeated the Hawks in four sets. UMES loses their fourth straight to fall to 8-11 (1-3 MEAC) while the Bears improved to 11-7 (4-1 MEAC) on the season.
Senior Ksenia Sukhareva was the lone Hawk with double figures in kills with 12, while Kirstin Fink’s nine was good for second most on the team. Fink ended up leading UMES in digs with five, with Sukhareva and junior Ashley Smith contributed four. Sophomore Allison Woods put up two aces, while fellow second-year Hawk Haley Robinson led the way in blocks with four.
For the Lady Bears, Samantha Prescott paced the visitors with 11 kills and eight digs, while Haley McClure earned four points with four aces.
Hampton comes to Princess Anne for the third game of a six game homestand. First serve is scheduled for 3:00p.m. on Sunday.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.morganstatebears.com
Lady Wildcats drop hard-fought match to Florida A&M
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Bethune-Cookman fell 3-0 (25-14, 25-20,25-18) to Florida A&M in a battle for the
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division lead Friday night.
Rhea Simon and Rakaya Neely each had six kills for the Lady Cats (6-15 overall, 4-1 MEAC), while Rechez Lindsay added 10 digs and Hazel Ortiz-Rosado 21 assists and two service aces.
Pamela Soriano led the Rattlers (7-10, 5-0) with 14 kills.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com or www.famuathletics.com