Coppin State Volleyball Beats UMBC for First Time in School History
BALTIMORE – Though the Coppin State volleyball team has a single focus on winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship, sometimes it’s good to pause along the ultimate road to glory to appreciate and savor significant accomplishments.
Coppin State’s 3-0 triumph over cross-town foe UMBC at the RAC Saturday afternoon in the final match of the Madison Bingaman Tournament was one of those moments. The very tense and close 25-23, 25-20, 25-21 victory was the Eagles first in program history over the Retrievers.
In less than three years, Coppin State coach Ashley Preston has turned the Eagles into one of the best Division I programs in the Baltimore area and the MEAC. In each of the last two years, the Eagles have increased their win total and raised the bar of excellence for success. This season, the Eagles are 5-5 overall.
Two of Coppin State’s victories this season are against Loyola and UMBC. The Eagles will play Morgan State twice during conference play so they will have an opportunity to become the volleyball queens of the city. The Eagles are excited about this latest win and the ramifications of it, but really they are only concerned with ultimately being the princesses of the MEAC on November 23.
Entering Saturday’s match against the Retrievers, Coppin State was 0-14-1 all-time against UMBC with the tie coming in 1973, long before the Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rappers Delight” became a classic tune. UMBC had won the last five meetings against Coppin State by 3-0 scores. This time, it was a better, talented and fearless Coppin State squad that turned the tables and handed UMBC (4-5) its fifth straight loss.
As usual, Coppin State showcased plenty of tenacity in closing out the afternoon by playing as a team. After a 3-0 loss to Eastern Michigan in the first match of the afternoon, the Eagles brought the racket like the Williams sisters against UMBC.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com
Duquesne, Pittsburgh Take Down NSU on 2nd Day of Panther Classic
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Duquesne and host Pittsburgh each handed the Norfolk State volleyball team a 3-0 loss on Saturday during the second day of the Panther Classic at Pitt's Fitzgerald Field House.
Pittsburgh won by 25-20, 25-11 and 25-18 scores in an early afternoon match. After a couple-hour break, Duquesne kept NSU winless on the season, winning 25-19, 25-22 and 25-20 in a three-set sweep.
Junior Jessica Johnson led the Spartans in both matches, tallying nine kills against Pittsburgh and then adding 12 against Duquesne.
The Spartans (0-8) kept their mistakes to a minimum against Pittsburgh in the first matchup. NSU hit .172 and actually had one fewer attack error on more swings than the Panthers, who hit .272. Pittsburgh (7-1), though, had a 49-32 edge in digs and a 12-2 advantage in service aces over NSU.
For complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com
Bethune-Cookman Volleyball Falls in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Bethune-Cookman dropped its two matches Saturday at the Lobo Classic hosted by the University of New Mexico.
The Lady Cats (0-10) fell 3-0 (25-13,25-18,25-14) to New Mexico and 3-1 (25-18,22-25,25-12,25-21) to Montana State.
Delicia Pierre had eight kills and seven digs for B-CU against New Mexico. Rhea Simon added seven kills and six digs, while Normarie Rolon and Rechez Lindsay each added six digs.
Simon had 11 kills in the Montana State match, which saw B-CU take the second set.
For complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com
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