Dover, Del. (Nov. 11, 2021) --- For the first time since 1987, the Delaware State volleyball team is a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular season champion. The Hornets secured at least a share of the title with a 3-1 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore today, DSU's school-record 24^th win of the season. The previous record was also held by the '87 squad (23-6).
Today's win would also give the Hornets No. 1 seed in next week's MEAC Tournament should Howard lose to Norfolk State on Sunday, or DSU holds the tie-breaker edge. The Hornets split their two contests against Howard this season.
The MEAC title and wins record add to the Hornets' impressive list of achievements this season.
Delaware State set a new team record with 16 consecutive wins from Sep. 4 to Oct. 26, tops in the MEAC and third among all NCAA Div. I teams at one point this season.
DSU posted a perfect record at home for the first time in team history (13-0), winning 39 of 40 sets played in Memorial Hall this season.
The Hornets have also set new team records with 19 total shutouts, including streaks of seven and six   consecutive wins by 3-0 scores.
Delaware State is 12-1 vs. non-MEAC opponents this season, the best such mark in team history.
In today's match, UMES got the better of the Hornets in the first set, winning 25-18.
Delaware State bounced back to win set two 25-20, and opened up a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-21 victory in the third set.
The Hornets completed the comeback with a hard-fought 25-22 win in set four.
DSU's Alondra Maldonado, a MEAC Player of the Year candidate, strengthened her credentials with a match-high 15 kills today.
Sydney Lewis, Karen Cordero and Kristi Gomez added eight kills each for DSU.
Delaware State's Malgorzata Andersohn led all players with 25 assists, and tied with Jasmal Cruz for team-high honors with 14 digs. Andersohn, who was first in the MEAC and sixth among all Division I players in digs at 0.63 per set, tallied six service winners in today's match.
The 2021 MEAC Tournament is set for Nov. 19-21 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The Hornets are seeking the school's second MEAC Tournament title in team history.
Delaware State captured its first title in 1986.