DOVER, Del. --- No. 3 Delaware State earned its second-straight trip to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship match after defeating No. 2 Howard 3-1 at Memorial Hall.
 
Junior middle blocker Alondra Maldonado recorded a 20-point performance for the second time this season after tying a match-high 22 points in Delaware State's semifinal win over the 2021 MEAC Champions and preventing back-to-back conference tournament championship seasons for Howard. Maldonado landed a team-high 19 kills but joined in on six assisted blocks for a new career-high in said category.
 
Middle blockers Kelsie Dawson and Sydney Lewis joined in on the dominant defensive performance notching four and three assisted blocks respectively.
 
Lewis tallied 10 kills to finish her night with 12.5 points while Dawson chipped in with eight and finished with 10 points in the win.
 
Maldonado was asked about the contributions of everyone on the court highlighted the performance of the middle blockers and stated "It just shows how big of a family we really are, we have each other and when our backs are against the wall, we know that who were standing next to out there will find a way to pick up the team, we just want to win, it doesn't matter how."
 
Junior outside hitter Karen Cordero also had herself a double-digit point performance by way of 10 kills and one service ace for a total of 11 in the win.

Setting duo Malgorzata Andersohn and Alayna Lacy combined for 51 of the team's 57 total assists ensuring everyone in a Hornet uniform was given the chance to contribute. Andersohn's 34 helpers were a personal season-high in said category.  
 
Libero Jasmal Cruz notched her fifth game of the season with at least 20 digs after recording 20 in the match.
 
As a team, Delaware State held Howard to a .205 hitting percentage and only conceding one set in the win.
 
No. 3 Delaware State will face No. 1 Coppin State in the 2022 MEAC Championship match Sunday evening. First serve from Memorial Hall is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and will air on ESPNU.