HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University volleyball team bid farewell to its five seniors in style on Sunday afternoon, sweeping Howard 3-0 (25-22, 25-11, 25-23) in its home finale at Holland Hall.

The win stopped a two-match skid for the Lady Pirates (14-10, 8-2 MEAC). Hampton closed its home slate with a perfect 7-0 mark.

"It was really great to get a solid win at home on Senior Day," first-year head coach Karen Weatherington said. "I'm really proud of this group of seniors. They have set a fdoundation for a legacy of success.

"I believe it the first time Hampton volleyball has gone undefeated at home for the season and that's a great milestone to establish in any sport."

Junior rightside Vendula Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic) led the way with 19 kills, hitting a team-best .421 thanks to just three errors in 38 total attempts. She also had a team-high 14 digs for her 13th double-double of the season.

Junior outside hitter Sonja Maksimovic (Belgrade, Serbia) added seven kills, while junior outside hitter Krista Kraskura (Kuldiga, Latvia) had six kills.

Senior setter BIbiany Fonseca (Uberlandia, Brazil) had 29 of Hampton's 35 assists.

"Every aspect of our system was in sync today," Weatherington said. "Solid ball control and assertive defense and serving gave us many opportunities to score in critical situations. I am so proud the seniors have a chance to finish with a big win"

Hampton led the first set 5-3 after a kill from junior middle blocker Marija Kocevska (SKopjeKarpos, Macedonia), but Howard (19-9, 7-3 MEAC) answered with a 6-1 run to take a 9-6 lead. The Lady Pirates fought back to tie the score on two occasions, before Howard again led 14-11.

A 6-2 Lady Pirates run put Hampton up 17-16 after a kill from Kocevska, but Howard fought back and tied the set at 21-21 and at 22-22. But the Lady Pirates scored the next three points, taking the first set 25-22 after Fonseca and Kocevska teamed on a block.

Hampton hit .441 (17 kills, two errors in 34 attacks) in the first set, before hitting a match-best .458 in the second set thanks to 12 kills and just one error in 24 attacks.

The Lady Pirates took immediate control in the second set, taking an 8-2 lead. Hampton later led 12-4 after a kill from Maksimovic, and Howard did not score consecutive points until scoring two straight to cut Hampton's lead to 17-8.

The Lady Pirates then went on a 5-1 run, taking a 22-9 lead on a kill from Kraskura. Howard cut the lead to 23-11, but Hampton scored the next two points to take the second set.

Howard led early in the third set, up 7-4, before the Lady Pirates scored four straight to take an 8-7 lead. But the Lady Bison responded with a 6-2 run of their own to take a 13-10 lead. Howard later led 17-13, before the Lady Pirates scored the next three points to cut the gap to 17-16 after three straight kills from Strakova.

A 5-1 run gave Howard a 22-17 lead, but the Lady Pirates scored the next seven points, taking a 24-22 lead and forcing match point on a Howard attack error. The Lady Bison scored the next point, but it only delayed the inevitable, as Maksimovic ended the match with a kill.

The Lady Pirates hit .323 (41 kills, nine errors in 99 attacks) for the match, while holding Howard to just .085 (29 kills, 21 errors in 94 attacks). Howard held a 5-4 edge in service aces and a 5.0-3.0 advantage in blocks.

Katherine Broussard led Howard with nine kills.

The Lady Pirates will close out the regular season on the road next weekend, heading to Delaware State on Friday and then Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday. 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.