BALTIMORE, Md. – No. 6 seed Maryland Eastern Shore advanced to the MEAC Volleyball Tournament semifinals with a 3-0 win (25-22, 25-21, 25-17) over No. 3 Morgan State on Thursday at the Coppin State Physical Education Complex.

Maryland Eastern Shore (11-17, 7-7 MEAC) opened the match with a strong start, building a 10-2 lead behind early kills from Nkemjika Ikemefuna and Jayda Hutchins, along with a service ace from Karielys Melendez. Morgan State (11-14, 8-6 MEAC) recovered to tie the frame at 22-22 before UMES closed with three straight points, including another ace from Melendez, to take the first set.

In the second set, the Hawks trailed 9-7 before putting together a 12-2 run supported by four kills from Anjola Omolewa and three from Melendez. Morgan State responded late, scoring eight of the final 10 points, but Maryland Eastern Shore held on for a 25-21 win and a two-set advantage.

The third set saw UMES take a 9-3 lead with contributions from Hutchins, Lilliana Montes, Ikemefuna, and Melendez. The teams traded points until the Hawks secured the match with a closing 3-0 run that included an Omolewa kill and two service aces from Melendez.

Melendez finished with a season-high seven service aces—tying the highest total by any MEAC women's volleyball player in a match this season—along with nine kills and six digs. Hutchins led the team with 12 kills, while setter Kate-Linh Eden recorded 36 assists, her sixth consecutive match with 20 or more.

Defensively, Valeria Matias posted 11 digs, and Montes added three blocks.

With the win, Maryland Eastern Shore improved to 3-0 in MEAC Quarterfinal matches under head coach Vanessa Faircloth, with each decided by a combined 9-3 set margin. The result also marked the Hawks' second sweep of the season.

Maryland Eastern Shore moves on to the MEAC Tournament semifinals.