VOLLEYBALL DROPS MATCH TO TEXAS-EL PASO IN FOUR SETS

Saturday, September 21

El Paso, Texas

4 p.m. EST

Hampton University

5-7

Texas-El Paso

6-5

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Hampton	22	16	25	18	1
UTEP	25	25	19	25	3

VOLLEYBALL DROPS MATCH TO TEXAS-EL PASO IN FOUR SETS

9.21.13 | Volleyball

Box Score

EL PASO, Texas – The Hampton University volleyball team dropped its match against Texas-El Paso on Saturday afternoon, as the Miners beat the Lady Pirates 3-1 (25-22, 25-16, 19-25, 25-18) at Memorial Gym.

"This match, and the entire preseason, has provided us a great opportunity to develop our systems and test our resolve," first-year head coach Karen Weatherington said. "Our goal for the preseason was to be competitive and develop our offensive and defensive systems in matches.

"We accomplished that while competing against good teams in challenging atmospheres."

Junior right side Vendula Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic) led the way with 25 kills, hitting a team-best .367 for the match thanks to just seven errors in 49 attacks. She also had 10 digs on defense for her eighth double-double of the season.

Strakova added a team-high four service aces.

Senior setter Bibiany Fonseca (Uberlandia, Brazil) had 35 of Hampton's 41 assists, while senior libero Sheileen Pagan (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico) had a team-high 14 digs on defense.

The Lady Pirates (5-7) jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the first set to cap off a 7-1 run, and Hampton later took a 15-10 lead after a service ace from junior middle blocker Marija Kocevska (SkopjeKarpos, Macedonia).

But UTEP answered with an 11-4 run to take a 21-19 lead, before Hampton scored two of the next three points to cut the lead to 22-21 after a kill from Strakova. The Miners closed the set with a 3-1 spurt to steal the first set.

Hampton led 3-1 early in the second set after a block from Kocevska and Strakova, but UTEP answered with a 10-3 run to take an 11-6 lead. Hampton followed with four straight points, cutting the lead to 11-10 on a kill from junior outside hitter Sonja Maksimovic (Belgrade, Serbia).

After Strakova cut UTEP's lead to 17-14 with a kill, the Miners went on a 5-0 run to take a 22-14 lead, and UTEP ended the half on an 8-2 spurt to win the set 25-16 and go up 2-0 in the match.

UTEP appeared to carry that momentum into the third set, going up 8-2 early and later holding a 13-9 lead. But the Lady Pirates came storming back, scoring nine of the next 10 points to take a 19-14 lead after a block from senior middle blocker Petra Parros (Bloomfield, N.J.).

Hampton took control from there, leading by as many as six when the Lady Pirates went up 24-18.

UTEP answered immediately in the fourth set, taking an 8-3 lead, before the Lady Pirates scored the next three points and closing the gap to 8-6 after a kill from Parros. But the Miners scored the next six points to go up 14-6.

Hampton closed to 14-9 after a kill from Fonseca, but UTEP went on another 5-0 spurt to pull away again. The Lady Pirates closed the gap to 23-17 after Strakova capped a 4-1 spurt with an ace, but UTEP scored two of the next three points to clinch the match.

Hampton hit .113 (44 kills, 29 errors in 133 attacks) for the match, while UTEP hit .238 (47 kills, 18 errors in 122 attacks). Both teams had six service aces, though UTEP (6-5) held a 13.5-4.0 advantage in total blocks.

Taylor Nix led three UTEP players in double figures with 17 kills.

"I am impressed with our response when facing tough teams," Weatherington said, "and I know it will help us as we head into the week ahead and MEAC play."

The Lady Pirates will return to action on Tuesday, when they hold their home opener at 7 p.m. against William & Mary in Holland Hall. 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.