Weekly Notes

BALTIMORE, Md. – The Hampton University volleyball team will open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play on the road this weekend, taking on Morgan State on Friday before squaring off against Coppin State on Sunday.

Friday's match will begin at 7 p.m. at the Hill Field House, while Sunday's match will be held at the Physical Education Complex at 3 p.m.

The Lady Pirates (9-10) won two of their three matches this past weekend at the Norfolk State Spartan Invitational, defeating South Carolina State in four sets before beating the host Spartans in five sets in Echols Hall.

Sophomores Krista Kraskura (Kuldiga, Latvia) and Vendula Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic) were both named to the All-Tournament Team.

So far this season, Kraskura ranks fourth in the MEAC in points (3.94 per set), fifth in kills (3.44 per set), seventh in digs on defense (3.07 per set), eighth in service aces (0.34 per set), and ninth in hitting percentage (.234).

Strakova leads the MEAC in points (5.50 per set) and is second in the MEAC in kills (4.74 per set), while also ranking fifth in service aces (0.42 per set), 10th in digs (2.66 per set), and 10th in hitting percentage (.229).

Junior setter Bibiany Fonseca (Uberlandia, Brazil), despite last playing against Elon on Sept. 15, is second in the MEAC in assists with 9.35 per set.

As a team, the Lady Pirates are second in the MEAC in hitting percentage (.203), assists (10.88 per set), and kills (11.85 per set), while also ranking third in opponent hitting percentage (.220) and service aces (1.64 per set).

Hampton is also fourth in the MEAC in digs, with 13.19 per set.

Nationally, the Lady Pirates rank 19th in all of Division I in service aces.

The Lady Pirates were picked to finish second in the MEAC Northern Division this season, behind defending conference champion Maryland Eastern Shore. Hampton went 13-14 last season and finished third in the MEAC North with a mark of 7-5 — marking the first time since 2001 the Lady Pirates had a winning record in conference play.

After a month of non-conference competition, the Lady Pirates have the second-best winning percentage in the MEAC. With a 9-10 mark, Hampton has a .474 winning percentage — second to only UMES (.778, 14-4).

This season, the Lady Pirates boast non-conference wins over Elon (Southern Conference), Radford (Big South), Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt), Stetson (Atlantic Sun), and McNeese State (Southland).

Hampton also took Baylor, No. 49 in the RPI last season, to five sets.

Hampton is 2-38 all-time against Morgan State, with the program's lone two wins coming in the 2008 season — as the Lady Pirates kept Morgan State out of the MEAC Tournament. The Lady Bears have won the last six meetings, including last year's season sweep. Morgan State won in straight sets at Hill Field House, before escaping Holland Hall with a five-set win.

The Lady Pirates have fared much better against Coppin State, going 30-6 against the Lady Eagles. Hampton swept the season series last year, and the Lady Pirates have won nine of the last 10 meetings against Coppin State.

Head coach Pedro Gonzalez is 2-8 against Morgan State, while also going 9-1 against Coppin State.

For more information on Hampton University volleyball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.