HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University volleyball team had to work for its fourth straight win, staying unbeaten in conference play after surviving a five-set slugfest with Delaware State 3-2 (17-25, 25-22, 25-17, 21-25, 15-9) on Friday in Holland Hall.

The Lady Pirates (12-8, 6-0 MEAC) have won seven of their last eight matches overall and are 5-0 at home this season. This was Hampton's first five-set match since a Sept. 24 win over William & Mary.

Junior rightside Vendula Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic) had a team-high 24 kills and 13 digs for her 12th double-double of the season, while junior outside hitter Krista Kraskura (Kuldiga, Latvia) added 17 kills and hit .275.

Junior middle blocker Marija Kocevska (SkopjeKarpos, Macedonia) and senior setter Bibiany Fonseca (Uberlandia, Brazil) each hit a team-best .625 – Kocevska had six kills and just one error, while Fonseca had five kills and no errors.

Fonseca also had 46 of Hampton's 57 assists, while senior libero Sheileen Pagan (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico) added 10 digs on defense.

"I am proud of this team and our ability to find a way to win," first-year head coach Karen Weatherington said. "(Kraskura) and (Strakova) really took the lead in controlling the ball, and (Fonseca) is always able to make adjustments to our offense that puts us in a position to score."

Delaware State had momentum after stealing the fourth set, riding that to a 5-3 lead early in the fifth set. But the Lady Pirates scored the next four points, taking a 7-5 lead after a kill from Kraskura.

The Lady Hornets closed the gap to 8-7 midway through the set, before Hampton responded by going on a 6-1 run, taking a 14-8 lead and forcing match point after a Delaware State error.

After a Delaware State point, Kraskura slammed home a kill to end the match.

The Lady Pirates hit .429 (seven kills, one error in 14 attacks) in the decisive set, while Delaware State recorded five kills and five errors in 17 attacks for a .000 hitting percentage.

Hampton jumped out to a 5-1 lead to open the first set, before Delaware State went on an 11-1 run to take a 12-6 lead. The Lady Pirates scored four of the next six points to cut the margin to 14-10, but the Lady Hornets held control of the set and took a 1-0 lead.

Strakova gave the Lady Pirates a 5-4 lead with an ace in the second set, before Delaware State fought back to take an 8-6 lead. A 6-1 Lady Pirates run gave them a 12-9 lead following a kill from Kraskura.

The Lady Hornets fought back, steadily chipping at the gap before later taking a 21-20 lead. But the Lady Pirates ended the second set on a 5-1 run, tying the match after senior middle blocker Petra Parros (Bloomfield, N.J.) registered a kill to give the Lady Pirates the 25-22 win.

Hampton hit .480 in the third set, appearing to take control of the match after recording 13 kills and just one error in 25 attacks. Delaware State led early in the set, 7-6, but the Lady Pirates scored the next six points to take an 11-7 lead after an ace from Pagan.

Delaware State answered with an 8-3 run to tie the set at 15-15, but Hampton scored nine of the next 10 points – taking a 24-16 lead and forcing set point after a pair of Lady Hornet errors.

Kocevska's kill two rallies later put the Lady Pirates up 2-1 in the match.

Hampton took an 8-4 lead early in the fourth set and appeared to have the match in-hand, especially after the Lady Pirates took a 15-9 lead on a kill from sophomore outside hitter Allysa Medina (Menifee, Calif.). But Delaware State went on an 11-2 run, taking a 20-17 lead.

The Lady Hornets maintained a three- to four-point lead the rest of the way to force a fifth set.

The Lady Pirates hit .272 (62 kills, 22 errors in 147 attacks), while Delaware State hit .200 (44 kills, 19 errors in 125 attacks). The Lady Hornets (1-15, 0-6 MEAC) had 10 aces to Hampton's nine, as well as a 10.0-4.0 edge in blocks.

Jessica Croucher, Edarkis Branch, and Jasmine Jackson each had 11 kills for Delaware State.

"We will continue to respect every opportunity to compete and play hard every point," said Weatherington, "and prepare for a tough second round of MEAC play."

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Sunday, closing out their three-match homestand against Norfolk State at 3 p.m. This will be Hampton's annual "Dig Pink" match, so come on out and wear pink to support the Lady Pirates and raise awareness for breast cancer.

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.