BALTIMORE, Md. – The Hampton University volleyball team made history Sunday afternoon at Coppin State's Physical Education Complex, defeating the host Lady Eagles 3-2 (25-17, 19-25, 25-27, 25-16, 15-11) in the title match of the 2013 MEAC Championships.

The Lady Pirates (19-10) won their first-ever MEAC crown – their last conference tournament title was in 1990 in the CIAA – and they matched a program Div. I record for wins in a season.

Junior rightside Vendula Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic) added Most Outstanding Player honors to being named MEAC Player of the Year, after leading the Lady Pirates with 25 kills and hitting .362 for the match. She also had four aces.

Strakova is now the fifth Lady Pirate ever to record 1,000 career kills, sitting at 1,023.

Junior outside hitter Krista Kraskura (Kuldiga, Latvia) added 12 kills and 13 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Senior setter Bibiany Fonseca (Uberlandia, Brazil) had 46 of Hampton's 52 assists, and senior libero Sheileen Pagan (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico) had a team-high 18 digs.

First-year head coach Karen Weatherington was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Coach.

"I am so proud to join the many Hampton University programs in bringing home a MEAC Championship," Weatherington said. "Today was a great day for our team and our five seniors (Fonseca, Pagan, Petra Parros, Andjela Petrovic, and Ioana Kalfinova) – who are now the cornerstone of a foundation for champions to come.

"I'm so proud that (Strakova) was named Tournament MVP as well as Player of the Year. She definitely performed like a champion today."

Hampton led 6-1 early in the first set after Parros and Kraskura teamed on a block, but Coppin State went on a 5-1 run of its own to close the gap to 7-6.  The Lady Eagles later closed the gap to 12-11, before the Lady Pirates scored five straight to go up 17-11 after an ace from Fonseca.

Coppin State closed the gap to 21-17, but Hampton scored the next four points to take the first set 25-17 on a Kraskura ace and go up 1-0 in the match.

The Lady Eagles led the second set 8-4, holding off several Hampton rallies and eventually taking a 16-10 lead. On three different occasions, Hampton closed the gap to within three, cutting Coppin State's lead to 19-16 after a kill from Kraskura.

But Coppin State ended the set with a 6-3 run to take the set 25-19 and tie the match at 1-1.

The Lady Pirates appeared to have control of the third set, leading 21-16 after a Strakova kill, but Coppin State scored seven of the next 10 points to tie the set at 24-24. Strakova gave Hampton a 25-24 lead on the next point, but Coppin State scored the next three points to take the set and a 2-1 lead.

The third set saw six ties and three lead changes.

Hampton never relinquished control in the fourth set, jumping out to an 11-3 lead after a kill from Kraskura. The Lady Pirates later led the set 19-8, before Coppin State scored the next five points to cut the lead to 19-13.

The Lady Pirates scored the next three points, going up 22-13 after a block from Parros and Strakova, before the Lady Eagles scored three in a row to close the gap to 22-16.

But Hampton answered with three in a row as well, taking the fourth set 25-16.

That momentum carried over into the fifth set, as the Lady Pirates opened with a 5-0 run. Hampton later led 9-4 after an ace from Strakova. Coppin State closed the gap to 11-8, before the Lady Pirates scored three of the next four points to force match point, up 14-9 after a block from Strakova and junior middle blocker Marija Kocevska (SkopjeKarpos, Macedonia).

Coppin State scored the next two points, but Strakova clinched the match and the title with a kill.

The Lady Pirates hit .244 (60 kills, 22 errors in 156 attacks) for the match, while holding Coppin State to just .199 hitting (58 kills, 27 errors in 156 attacks) – the 18th time Hampton has held an opponent under .200 hitting this season.

Hampton also held a 13-4 edge in aces.

Cindy Okpegbue led Coppin State (15-16) with 24 kills.

"There have been so many firsts this season and I am elated for my players," Weatherington said. "I'm glad to see all the hard work pay off. They've all put in so many hours … that many people don't get to see."

The Lady Pirates advance to their first-ever NCAA Div. I Tournament; they will learn seeding and opponent on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 9:30 p.m., when the Selection Show airs on ESPNU.

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.