PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Looking to extend their season-high 
seven match winning streak, the University of Maryland – Eastern Shore Lady Hawks traveled to Tom Gola Arena Tuesday night and a non-conference match against the LaSalle Explorers.
Explorers Senior OH Bryanna Davis had 17 kills and teammates Sophomore OH Devin Corah and Junior OH Madison Kuch each had 16 kills a piece and LaSalle (12-13) pulled off the upset by defeating UMES (21-7), 25-22; 22-25; 25-20; 21-25; 15-13 to snap the Lady Hawks seven-match winning streak.
Lady Hawks Sophomore OH Iva Vujosevic had a match-high 18 kills for UMES and Junior OH Lucia Babic added three service aces.
The first set would be a battle between the two teams and after 44 points, the score was tied, 22-22. The Explorers would win the next three points on an Explorer kill by Senior MB Rachel Carr, a Lady Hawk attack error on Junior OH Rachel Kayongo and LaSalle would win the first set, 25-22, on Sophomore S Kathryn Wood’s kill. That gave LaSalle a one set to none lead.
UMES would never trail during the second set and would win by the same 25-22 score when Davis of LaSalle would have an attack error. That tied the match at one set all.
Using a Lady Hawk Junior L Maja Jankovic service error, the Explorers jumped out to a 6-3 lead to begin set number three. The Lady Hawks would answer by going on a 7-0 run of their own and after Babic’s service ace, UMES led 10-6.
Later in the set, the Lady Hawks were still leading 15-11 before the Explorers used a 10-1 run to take a 21-16 lead on a Lady Hawks attack error by Senior MB Alana Polk. The Explorers would finish off the set, 25-20 on a kill by Davis and take a two sets to one lead.
LaSalle was looking to upset UMES in just four sets and took an early 6-5 lead to begin set four on Lady Hawks attack error on Vujosevic. But the Lady Hawks went on an 8-3 run, causing the Explorers to use a time out with UMES up 13-9.
On a Lady Hawks service error by Babic and the Explorers only trailed by two points at 23-21 before kills by Lady Hawks Polk and Sophomore S Ivana Blazevic would give UMES the fourth set, 25-21 and tied the match at two sets all going to the decisive fifth set.
Determined to escape Philadelphia with a victory, UMES started hot on a 3-0 run. LaSalle would answer with it’s own 9-2 run to take a 9-5 lead. The rest of the set would be defined by runs. A 4-2 Lady Hawks run closed the Explorers lead to 11-9 before the Explorers would use a 3-1 mini run to go up 14-10 and it’s first match point.
Three consecutive match point saves were made by the Lady Hawks and after a kill by Kayongo, UMES was only down a point at 14-13. On it’s fourth match point, the Explorers would get a kill by Corah and take the fifth set, 15-13 and upset the Lady Hawks, three sets to two.
UMES goes back to MEAC competition on 10/27 when they travel to our nation’s capital and do battle with the Howard Bison (10-13; 6-1 MEAC North Division) with the winner taking first place in the North Division. The Lady Hawks still lead the MEAC North Division with a perfect 7-0 conference record. Match time is slated for 6:00 pm.
