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Dover, Del. (Mar. 17, 2021) --- First place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Division volleyball race is on the line when  Delaware State plays the first of back-to-back matches against Coppin State in DSU's Memorial Hall Thursday evening. The teams will also compete on Friday at CSU's Physical Education Center.
Coppin State currently leads the division with a 5-1 record (6-4 overall), while the Hornets are in second place at 3-1 (7-2 overall).
Delaware State has won its last three matches, each by shutout, since a 3-0 loss to the Eagles when the teams met the first time this season at Coppin State on Mar. 8.
The Eagles bring a five-match win streak into Thursday's contest.
Delaware State's success this season has been keyed by solid hitting and a strong defense.
The Hornets are No. 2 in the MEAC in attack percentage (.249) and opponents hitting percentage (.130). DSU also leads the league in blocks at 2.13 per set.
Hornet middle blocker Sydney Lewis (so.) is the MEAC leader with a .468 hitting percentage, recording 54 kills and just 10 errors on 94 attacks this season.
Senior outside hitter Mayah Ngundam is seventh in the conference in three statistical categories, ranking among the league leaders in hitting percentage (.291), kills (2.54 per set) and blocks (0.79 per set).   
Delaware State has also scored big on serves this season. The Hornets are tops in the MEAC in service aces per set (2.48) and total aces (77).
DSU's Kristi Gomez (jr.) is No. 1 in the league in aces at 0.86 per set (25 total).
Valeria Otero (fr.) is the team leader and fourth in the MEAC in kills at 3.14 per set (88 total). Otero is a two-time MEAC Rookie-of-the-Week and was selected as the league's Player-of-the-Week on Feb. 8.
Jasmal Cruz (so.) averages 3.39 digs per set to stand at fifth in the league entering Thursday's contest.