Dover, Del. (Sep. 26, 2014) --- Inspired by playing at home for the first time this season, the Delaware State University volleyball team was one set away from its first win of the season, but UMES fought back for a 3-2 victory in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opener for each team before an enthusiastic crowd in Memorial Hall this evening.

The Hornets jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the contest, winning 26-24 in each of the first two sets. The Hawks won 25-16 in the third set and evened the match with a 25-23 victory in set four.

UMES won the deciding fifth set 16-14.

There were six ties in the final set. Delaware State trailed by three points early in the set, but used a 4-0 run to grab an 11-10 lead. The Hawks clinched the victory on a kill by Ashley Smith off a feed from Precious Manu.

Delaware State's Jasmine Jackson (jr.; South Riding, Va.) posted her fifth "double-double" of the season, tying for match-high honors with 20 kills and topping all players with 22 digs in the contest. Jackson had a season-high .326 hitting percentage in the match (20 kills/five errors/46 attempts) and also collected three blocks.

Ksenia Sukhareva led UMES with 20 kills and also contributed 15 digs to the win. Smith had 16 kills and 14 digs for the Hawks.

The score was tied a total of 13 times in the opening set. Delaware State led 18-13 before UMES scored five unanswered points to pull even. Jackson clinched the set for the Hornets with an unassisted kill.

The teams also played even through much of the second set, which featured 13 ties. The Hawks led 10-5 in the early going, but DSU used a 16-8 run to take control. Natalia Mendieta (jr.; Aurora, Ill.) capped off the run with an ace to give the Hornets a 21-18 lead. The score was 24-24 when Nevershi Ellis (fr.; Chicago, Ill.) recorded consecutive kills to give the Hornets the set two win.

The score was 9-9 in the third set when UMES began to pull away. Smith closed out an 11-5 run with a kill to give the Hawks a 20-14 lead.

The tightly-played fourth set featured eight ties and three lead changes. Delaware State trailed 6-2 in the early going, but rallied to take an 8-7 lead on a block by Jae Jackson (so.; Levittown, Pa.) and NaKia Jones (fr.; Chicago, Ill). The score was 21-21 before UMES scored four of the last six points to claim the set four win.  

The Hawks outhit the Hornets .230-to-.122. UMES had 66 kills and 28 errors in 165 attacks, while Delaware State tallied 49 winners and 31 errors on 148 attempts.

The Hornets posted 65 digs and collected a season-high 26 blocks. Jae Jackson led all players with a career-high 10 blocks (one solo; nine block assists). Her previous high was six during her freshman season in 2013.

Ellis tied her career-high with 14 kills, while libero Ayana Lee (fr.; Washington, D.C.) had a career-best 13 digs for the Hornets.

Delaware State fell to 0-10 this season (0-1 MEAC). UMES has won four of its last five matches to improve to 8-7 (1-0 MEAC).  

The Hornets will try to rebound from the tough loss in their next contest at Howard this Sunday. The MEAC match begins at 3 p.m. at Burr Gymnasium in Washington, D.C.