DOVER, Del. --- The Delaware State women's volleyball team claimed its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title since 1986 earning a bid to the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship after defeating the tournament top seed Coppin State University 3-1 in the 2022 MEAC Championship final.
 
Junior middle blocker Alondra Maldonado led the way with a game-high 17 points after landing a match-best 15 kills and four assisted blocks. Maldonado was named the 2022 MEAC Championship Outstanding Performer for her performance on the weekend.
 
Karen Cordero chipped in with 16 digs, nine kills, a pair of service aces and one assisted block in route to 11.5 points on the night.
 
Outside hitter Valeria Otero recorded a double-double by way of 14 kills and 12 digs and joined in on one assisted block to finish with 14.5 points.

The setting duo of Malgorzata Andersohn (27) and Alayna Lacy (16) combined for 43 of the team's 47 total assists. 
 
While Sydney Lewis notched only eight kills, she dominated the defensive charge for the Hornets with a pair of assisted blocks and a match-high five assisted blocks for a total of 12.5 points in the win.
 
Lewis and Otero joined Maldonado in representing Delaware State on the All-Tournament Team.
 
Kelsie Dawson and Danielle Allen chipped in on defense with four and three assisted blocks respectively.
 
Jasmal Cruz dug Delaware State out of 17 Coppin State attack attempts and also notched a pair of service aces.   
 
As a team, Delaware State held Coppin State to a .054 hitting percentage only allowing 35 kills from the Eagles' offense.
 
Cruz was asked postgame what winning this title meant to the team and stated "We've felt all year that this was our turn and redemption has obviously been on our minds but we knew what we needed to do to get here. The focus was there the whole weekend. The energy and the effort were at the levels we needed to be at in order to win."
 
As a result of winning the MEAC Championship, Delaware State has punched its ticket to the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship.
 
A four-year member of the program, Cruz also spoke on what it means to finally be playing in this postseason tournament and said "We had to work really hard to get here. These last four years Syd (Sydney Lewis) and I wanted to change this program for the better. With everyone that's come in, we've told them what we wanted to do, and everyone's been on board. This win and this championship mean so much to us. We're excited to finally be playing in an NCAA tournament."

The selection show for the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship will air Sunday, November 27 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU. Additional information regarding the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship will be released upon availability.