Photo by David Sierra

 

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 20, 2021 – Delaware State fought off Coppin State Saturday evening in Burr Gymnasium, winning 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-19) in the semifinals of the 2021 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championship at Burr Gymnasium.
 
The Hornets (26-3) are making their first final appearance since 2010; they will face the top-seeded Bison at 8 p.m. on ESPNU.
 
Delaware State and Howard were co-champions in the regular season.
 
Valeria Otero led three Hornets in double-digit kills with 17 to go along with 18 digs and three service aces. First Team honoree Alondra Maldonado and Karen Cordero each added 10 kills; Maldonado also had 14 digs, while Cordero added 10.
 
Jasmal Cruz also had 17 digs.
 
The Hornets hit .191 for the match and had a 15-14 edge in total blocks. Coppin State had 11 service aces to Delaware State’s 10.
 
Coppin State jumped out to take the first set, a frame that saw several ties and lead changes, and the opening stages of the second set were just as competitive. The score was tied 9-all before a kill from Sydney Lewis, and the Eagles did not lead for the rest of the set.
 
Chudear Tut tied the set at 17-17 with a kill, but Delaware State closed the frame on an 8-3 run to tie the match.
 
Coppin State led the third set 10-7 after a set from Andrea Tsvetanova, and back-to-back Paola Caten aces made it 13-8 in favor of the Eagles. But the Hornets stormed back; after trailing 19-15, Delaware State closed the set on a 10-1 run to take the set and go up 2-1.
 
The Hornets then opened the fourth set with a 6-0 spurt, then later went up 18-12 after Lewis and Maldonado paired on a block.
 
Delaware State carried that momentum all the way to the championship match.
 
Miajavon Coleman, the MEAC Player of the Year, led the Eagles (16-12) with 12 kills.