Nov. 2, 2007

Box Score |  Photo Gallery 

PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - It has been a year of firsts for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Volleyball Team. They went undefeated in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) for the first time and undefeated at home and away, thanks to a 3-1 win tonight. The Hawks are 22-3 with all three losses at neutral sites and now have 20 consecutive wins, the longest steak in the nation.

UMES rolled through game one 30-19 and continued their hot play into game two taking a 30-24 decision. In game one the Hawks out hit the Eagles .424 to .263 and continued that into game two .227 to .152.

Game three saw the Eagles take advantage, changing their lineup and taking advantage of a slightly different Hawk lineup. The Eagles rallied late and posted an extra point win, 31-29. The Hawks got it together in game four and won 30-23.

Christina Estebane' (El Paso, Texas/Midland Coll.) recorded her fourth triple double of the year to lead the Hawk attack, posting 11 kills, 17 digs and 52 assists. Whitney Johnson (Prince Frederick, Md./Univ. at Albany) had a match high 25 kills and added three solo blocks. Caylin Woodward (Garden Grove, Calif./Pacifica H.S.) had a double double of 14 kills and 19 digs. She hit a whopping .464 with only one error in the match. Leah Amundson (Tuscon, Ariz./Arizona Western C.C.) had a match high 27 digs.

Senior Kate Smith (Carpentersville, Ill./Dundee Crown H.S.) saw action in all four games, starting the match and contributing three aces and a dig and a lot of hustle. Holiday Eller (Minnetonka, Minn./St. Benilde St, Maraget's), a junior who will graduate in the spring saw action in just two games, tallying four kills and hitting .273. She left the match as a precaution after two games with a slightly turned ankle. Freshman Shaylin Sommer (Atascadero, Calif./ Atascadero H.S.) filled in and tallied three kills and a pair of digs.

"I am thrilled with the hustle tonight," said Head Coach Don Metil. "Shaylin's stats weren't incredible but her hustle was amazing, she dug a ball over the media table that was the one of the finest hustle plays I have seen. She continued helping the team, she served well and swung hard."

"Kate played a great final match at home. She got way involved, was solid and played well. She was a big part of the win tonight," Metil added.

"Holiday provides a lot of leadership to our team," Metil said. "When she got hurt I was worried because her leadership is invaluable but she will be fine and we got good play out of people who really stepped up."

North Carolina Central (18-11) was led by Shari Matthews with 17 kills and Rachel Lloyd had 14 digs. Anielle Dasilva added 12 kills.

UMES has wrapped up its regular season and will take two weeks off until the MEAC Tournament in Hampton, Va. on November 16 and 17.