Coppin State blanks Norfolk State in MEAC opener
NORFOLK, Va. – The Coppin State volleyball team opened its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) schedule by cruising to a 3-0 triumph over Norfolk State at Joseph Echols Hall Friday night.
In winning its third consecutive match, the Lady Eagles subdued the Spartans by scores of 25-16, 25-19, 26-24. Coppin State raised its overall record to 4-8.
Senior Cindy Okpegbue, the reigning MEAC Player of the Week, finished with a team-high nine kills on 24 attempts for a .167 hitting performance. Senior Kendra Ireigbe, who leads the conference in hitting percentage, was her usual efficient self in finishing with a team best .417 effort on 12 attacks. Ireigbe ended with six kills and six blocks.
Senior Denali Sturgeon and freshman Samantha Polk had seven kills each. Sturgeon enjoyed a .400 hitting percentage for the Lady Eagles. Senior Chelsee Sauni had 21 assists. Leading Coppin State on defense was the dynamite tandem of Glory Rosado (12 digs) and Bailee Jackson (10).
Meanwhile leading Norfolk State (1-13 overall, 0-1 MEAC) was Hope Forsythe (11 kills), Darcy Moore (29 assists) and Janay Frazier (11 digs).
Coppin State completes its season-opening 13-match road trip Sunday afternoon when it visits reigning MEAC Tournament champion Hampton at Holland Hall. First-serve is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.nsuspartans.com
Savannah State falls in MEAC opener to Bethune-Cookman
SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah State University volleyball team fell to Bethune-Cookman 3-0 (25-14, 25-14, 25-13) in its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener Friday night in Willcox-Wiley Gym.
Freshman outside hitter Ayree Gallon led the team with five kills, while junior setter Caitlynn Masoe led the team with 15 assists and added four kills and five digs. Junior libero Alexis Washington led the team with 10 digs.
Freshman setter Briana Littlejohn added six assists and seven digs, while senior outside hitter Christian Lyle added four kills.
The Wildcats were led by Rhea Simon with 11 kills and had a .550 hitting percentage, Hazel Ortiz-Rosado with 17 assists and Delicia Pierre with 11 digs.
The Lady Tigers finishes its four-match homestand on Sunday against Florida A&M on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Willcox-Wiley Gym.
For complete story, visit www.ssuathletics.com or www.bcuathletics.com
Maryland Eastern Shore drops 3-0 decision to Howard
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. — Hoping to start off with a conference win while keeping their undefeated record at home intact, the UMES volleyball team played two vigorous sets against the Howard Bison, forcing extra time in both. However, the Bison were able to push through the valid Hawk attack, eventually capturing the match in three sets.
The Hawks fall to 11-3 (0-1 MEAC) while the Bison improve to 4-12 (1-0 MEAC).
Junior Haley Robinson led the Hawks with 11 kills, and added seven digs and a block assist to her total. Sophomore Kirstin Fink also enjoyed an all-around performance with nine kills, 21 assists, an ace, five digs and six blocking assists. Senior libero Andjela Reljic led the defensive effort with 17 digs.
For the Bison, Katherine Broussard totaled 20 kills to lead her team while earning a double-double with 11 digs. Khalia Donaldson also registered a double-double with 10 kills and 22 digs.
UMES stays in Princess Anne for the next two matches, starting with a 6:00p.m. Friday evening matchup with the Norfolk State Spartans. The team will then play Hampton 24 hours later on Saturday.
For complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com or www.hubison.com
Hornets fall short at Fairleigh Dickinson
HACKENSACK, N.J. --- Jasmine Jackson recorded a season-high 19 kills, but it was not enough in Delaware State’s 3-0 loss to Fairleigh Dickinson this evening. The scores were 25-23, 25-19 and 25-22.
Jackson also tallied 13 digs to post her third straight double-double and seventh of the season.
Delaware State’s Taylor Marshall led all players with 35 assists, while teammate Alliyah McBean had a match-high 15 digs.
Alex Lolland led a balanced Fairleigh Dickinson attack with nine kills. Maddie Gibbons had eight winners and Savanna Wray collected a team-high 11 digs for the Knights.
Delaware State will begin Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play this Sunday (Sep. 27) at Howard. The match begins at 3 p.m. in Washington, D.C. The Hornets will play their home opener on Oct. 9 against Coppin State. The Dig Pink Breast Cancer Awareness match begins at 6 p.m. in Memorial Hall.
For complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com
Morgan State tops Hampton to open MEAC play
HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University volleyball team lost its MEAC and home opener Friday evening in Holland Hall, as Morgan State came away with a 3-1 (21-25, 29-27, 25-14, 25-19) win.
The Lady Pirates are now 0-14 (0-1 MEAC) on the season.
Reeana Richardson led the Lady Pirates with a career-high 17 kills, while Allysa Media registered 11 kills for her third double-digit performance of the season. Medina also hit a match-best .321 and racked up a team-high 10 digs for her second double-double of 2015.
Mallory Beard had two of Hampton’s three service aces. Alexandra Erhart had 21 assists, while Brianna Lilly added 19.
Richardson added seven digs. Kyndall Nicholas tied her career high with six blocks, while Lena Washington added nine kills – tying her career high – and three blocks.
The Lady Pirates hit .171 for the match – including a match-best .423 in the first set thanks to 16 kills and just five errors in 26 attacks.
This was just Morgan State’s second win over Hampton since 2012.
Keana Browne led three Lady Bears in double figures with 15 kills.
Hampton will play host to Coppin State on Sunday at 3 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.hamptonpirates.com or www.morganstatebears.com
Lady Eagles Soar Past Aggies to open MEAC action
DURHAM, N.C. – A double-double by junior Kelsey Murphy and a strong display by the Lady Eagles defense led the North Carolina Central University volleyball team to a dominating 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory over heated rival North Carolina A&T State University on Friday afternoon in the L.T. Walker Complex.
NCCU (2-15 Overall, 1-0 MEAC) posted its most digs and blocks in a three-set match all season in rolling to the 25-17, 25-21, 25-20 win over its in-state rival. NCAT (2-7, 0-1) has lost its last two matches against to the Lady Eagles.
Murphy compiled 15 kills and 10 digs for her fourth double-double of the campaign. Senior Kelly Rossip and freshman Kierra Shipman helped the Lady Eagles to a .167 team hitting percentage by banging down 10 and six kills, respectively.
Rossip blasted her 10 kills on 23 attempts and only had two errors for a staggering .348 clip. She finished with 15 points by adding two aces and five blocks (one solo, four assists) to her 10 kills.
NCCU had four players with double-digit digs. Sophomore Paige Phillips and freshman Tamika Brekke each made 13 successful passes and senior Marilyn Sherbondy added 11 digs.
Junior Jennifer Allison joined Rossip with four block assists while Shipman and junior Casey Curran each added three. Curran tallied 30 assists on the Eagles 37 kills.
Senior Brooke Stamnes and sophomore Samara Brown paced the Aggies with eight kills apiece. Freshman Keniah Rivera led all players with 14 digs.
NCCU will wrap up its three-match MEAC homestand hosting South Carolina State University and Savannah State University next weekend. The Lady Eagles will first entertain the Bulldogs on Friday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. and then the Tigers on Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.ncataggies.com