Dover, Del. (Oct. 14, 2012) --- Delaware State hung tough with MEAC North power Hampton in the opening game, but the Pirates dominated the last two games in a 3-0 victory over the Hornets in Memorial Hall this afternoon.
The scores were 25-22, 25-11 and 25-14.
In the first game, Hampton led 8-4 before the Hornets fought back. Delaware State scored seven of the next 11 points, and tied the match 11-11 on a kill by Jessica Croucher (jr.; Brisbane, Aus.). The teams were tied at 13, 14, 16, 21 and 22 before the Pirates scored the last three points to claim the game one win.
Delaware State's Edarkis Branch (so.; Los Angeles, Cal.) tied all players with four kills in the opening game.
The Hornets outhit the Pirates .143-to-.083 in the opening game.
In game two, the score was 2-2 before Hampton took control. The Pirates scored 12 of the next 14 points, and opened up a 14-4 lead on a kill by Bibi Fonseca. Delaware State could get no closer than eight points the rest of game two. Hampton had 15 kills and just one error on 28 attacks in the second game (.500).
In the third game, Delaware State had an early 5-2 run and pulled ahead 5-4 on a kill by Bell Fakes (sr.; Salt Lake City, UT). The score was 7-7 in game three before Hampton took charge. The Pirates went on a 10-3 run, and opened up a 17-10 lead on a kill by Mariah Baylor. Hampton ended the game on an 8-3 run to seal the shutout win.
Branch led the Hornets with eight kills, posted a .389 attack percentage in the match (8 kills/1 error/18 attempts). Croucher had five kills, while Laisha Davis and Brooke Redmon tallied four each.
Fakaosi led DSU with 20 assists, while Davis tied for game-high honors with eight digs.
Hampton's Vendula Strakova had a game-high 11 kills, while Fonseca led all players with 31 assists.
Delaware State posted a .139 attack percentage (25/15/72) for the match while Hampton had a .314 average (39/12/86).
The Hornets dropped their fifth straight match to fall to 4-14 overall and 1-5 in the MEAC North, while Hampton won for the fifth time in its last six matches to improve to 13-11 and 4-1.
Delaware State returns to action on Friday (Oct. 19) at MEAC North leader UMES. The match gets underway at 7:00 p.m. The return home on Oct. 25 against Rider (7:00 p.m.).
