Hampton sweeps NJIT for fifth straight win
NEWARK, N.J. – The Hampton University volleyball team swept New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) on Friday evening at Fleischer Athletic Center, taking a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-23) win for their fifth straight victory.
The Lady Pirates (15-9) have won nine of their last 10 matches.
Head coach Karen Weatherington is now three wins shy of 100 for her career.
Senior rightside Vendula Strakova led the Lady Pirates with 20 kills, hitting .419 for the match. Senior outside hitters Krista Kraskura and Sonja Maksimovic had nine and seven kills each, respectively.
Junior libero Allysa Medina had a team-high 11 digs on defense, while senior setter Kitija Megne recorded a double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs.
The Lady Pirates hit .230 (44 kills, 18 errors in 113 attacks) for the match, and both teams had five service aces. NJIT hit .232 for the match, with 35 kills and 12 errors in 99 attempts. The Highlanders also held a 7.0-5.0 edge in blocks.
The Lady Pirates resume MEAC play on Sunday, when they take on Howard in Burr Gymnasium at 3 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com
Fink tallies double-double as UMES falls to Morgan State
BALTIMORE, Md. — The Hill Field House on the campus of Morgan State played host to a crucial match between two opponents looking to clinch a spot in the MEAC tournament.
Although the Hawks gained the edge by winning the first set, the Bears would storm back to win the next three sets to win the match. Morgan State improved to 12-11 and 5-5 in the MEAC while the Hawks fell to 10-15 and 3-6 in conference.
Ksenia Sukhareva paced the Hawks in kills with 12, while freshman Kirstin Fink registered a double-double with 10 kills and 14 assists. Three Hawks ended in double figures for digs, led by sophomore Precious Manu with 14 and followed by Smith with 13 and sophomore Sonia Rosales who had 10. Sukhareva also led in aces with a pair, and Polk took part in four of the team’s seven blocks.
Coppin State will be the Hawks’ next opponents with a 3:00 p.m. Sunday matinee in Baltimore.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.morganstatebears.com
Preston becomes the all-time winningest volleyball coach in Coppin State history
BALTIMORE, Md. – Coppin State’s volleyball team earned a treat on Halloween with a 3-1 victory over Delaware State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division match-up Friday night in the Auxiliary Gym.
The Eagles won the first two sets by 25-21 scores. The Hornets rallied to win the third set, 26-24, after a taxing back-and-forth battle. Coppin State didn’t take that lightly, icing the fourth set 25-16.
With the victory, Coppin State (12-11 overall, 6-4 MEAC North) assured itself of its first winning record in program history heading into November.
The Eagles have been setting records left and right this season but Friday was all about head coach Ashley Preston. The triumph over the Hornets was her 38th career win, making her the all-time winningest volleyball coach in Coppin State history. She surpassed Linda Mitchell’s mark of 37, which was established between 1987-1993.
Along with Okpegbue, junior setter Chelsee Sauni has been with coach Preston from the beginning, when they all embarked on this journey together three years ago.
Okpegbue led the Eagles’ rally with a match-high 22 kills. This was the ninth time in her career that she has recorded 20 or more kills. Nicole Malave-Adams and Kandace Thomas had 10 kills each. Ariel Richard chipped in with nine kills.
Defensively, Malave-Adams and Gabrielle Otero shared a match-high 13 digs. Chelsee Sauni dished a match-high 53 assists.
Although Coppin State was hoping to close out the match in three sets, Delaware State overcame a 20-16 deficit to force a fourth set.
Delaware State’s Nevershi Ellis and Jasmine Jackson led the Hornets with 12 kills apiece. Taylor Marshall and Natalia Mendieta added 18 assists each. Ayanna Lee had a team-high 12 digs.
Coppin State will celebrate the accomplishments of Kandace Thomas, Nicole Malave-Adams, Gabrielle Otero, and Ariel Richards during Senior Day on Sunday against Maryland Eastern Shore in the Auxiliary Gym at 3 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.dsuhornets.com