DOVER, Del. --- The Delaware State University women's volleyball team begins a three-game away stint in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) competition Thursday at University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES).
 
The Hornets opened up MEAC action last week with a 3-1 win over Howard at Burr Gymnasium on Friday followed by a 3-0 loss to Norfolk State on Sunday at Memorial Hall.
 
The middle blocking duo of Alondra Maldonado and Sydney Lewis will look to turn things around for Delaware State at UMES. Lewis and Maldonado are effective on both sides of the ball for the Hornets as they both currently rank in the top-10 in the MEAC in hitting percentage, blocks (per set average and total) and points (per set average and total).
 
Lewis enters this week's matchup sitting in first place in hitting percentage (.407) as well as blocks (63, 1.17 per set). She remains the only member of the hitting percentage leaders to record an average above .400. Along with 63 blocks, she's tallied 104 kills and 20 service aces for a team-best 162.0 total points.
 
Maldonado's team-best 139 total kills puts her in third place in the MEAC in said category. Her average of 2.57 kills per set ranks her in fourth place ahead of Thursday night. With 41 blocks in 2022, she has recorded a total of 160.5 points scoring 2.97 per set which has her currently sitting in fourth place in the league.
 
The setting combination of Malgorzata Andersohn and Alayna Lacy continue to stabilize Delaware State's offensive attack, ensuring everyone gets a chance to contribute. Andersohn (321) and Lacy (200) have combined for 521 of the Hornets' 623 total assists on the year. Andersohn's total assists sit her in third in the league and with an average of 5.84 assists per set, she currently ranks fifth in said category.
 
While Maldonado and Lewis are the primary two-way players for Delaware State, sophomore middle blocker Kelsie Dawson has proven herself as another productive hitter and blocker for the Hornets. Dawson sits behind Lewis on the team in total blocks and blocks per set (42.0, 0.76). With 60 kills so far, she has accumulated 85.0 total points and has recorded back-to-back games with a hitting percentage above .400.
 
As UMES is still searching for its first win in MEAC competition, the Hawks will turn to senior outside hitter Derionah Abner. Abner who's appeared in all 47 sets for UMES this season, leads the Hawks in total kills (100) recording 2.13 kills per set. She has also tallied 19 total blocks giving her 110.5 points on the year scoring an average of 2.35 per set. Newcomer Nkemjika Ikemefuna is making her presence felt early in her young career. The freshman outside hitter has proven to be a productive two-way player for UMES as she has recorded 90 total kills and 16 assisted blocks putting her in second place on the roster in total points (104.0, 2.46 per set average).
 
Delaware State continues to rank amongst Division I in team statistical categories as the Hornets currently sit in fourth place in aces per set (2.16) and fifth in total aces (119). Delaware State remained in the top-25 this week in opposition hitting percentage currently sitting in 25th with other teams hitting .161 against the Hornets.
 
First serve between the Hornets and the Hawks is currently scheduled for 6 p.m. from Hytche Arena.