DOVER, Del., Nov. 18, 2023 – Laila Ibrahim led the way with 14 points as Coppin State University defeated the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in three sets (25-19, 25-20, 25-18) in the 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championship semifinals at Memorial Hall Gym. 

The top-seeded Eagles (26-4) advance to the MEAC Championship match for the second consecutive year and will take on the winner of No. 2/3 match between the Bison of Howard University and the Hornets of Delaware State University on at Sunday 8:30 p.m. 

Ibrahim led the Eagles with 11 kills while hitting .421 on the evening and collecting a team-high five blocks setting a new program record for Coppin State of blocks in a single-season with 106. 

The Eagles began set one taking a 5-1 lead on three kills and a double block from Ibrahim and Hope Casel. The Hawks responded with a 5-4 run to pull within three points, 9-6, but Coppin State pulled away on an 11-4 run to lead 20-10 following a Hawk attack error. Maryland Eastern Shore responded by closing the gap to five points, trailing 24-19, but a service error by UMES gave CSU the final point of set one to win 25-19 and take the match lead 1-0.  

Set two was much closer at the start of the set as the teams traded points and remained tied through the 11th point for each side. The Eagles put down for consecutive points on three kills and an Andrea Tsvetanova service ace to lead 15-11. Maryland Eastern Shore came back to even the score at 16 all on a kill from Anjola Omolewa. Coppin State strung together three more consecutive points before Maryland Eastern Shore put down a pair putting the score at 19-18. The Eagles closed out the set on a 6-2 run claiming set two 25-20. 

The beginning of set three was like set two where the teams were back-and-forth even through the first six points on each side. A trio of kills for Ranyla Griggs gave the Hawks an 8-6 lead and UMES continued to pull ahead 12-8 following a few Hawk kills and Eagle errors. Coppin State climbed back into the set on a 4-0 run to even the score at 12 all and they took the 18-14 lead after going on a 6-2 rally. UMES scored back-to-back points on a kill from Soleil Cotton and a CSU error, but Coppin State closed out the set on a 7-2 run claiming set three 25-18 and the match in three sets. 

Nkemjika Ikemefuna led the Hawks (16-12) with 11 kills and added four blocks and five digs. Derionah Abner and Ranyla Griggs added five kills each.  

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 53rd year of intercollegiate competition with the 2023-24 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.