PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The Hampton University volleyball team remained unbeaten in conference play Sunday afternoon, beating Maryland Eastern Shore 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-20) at the W.P. Hytche Athletic Center.
 
The Lady Pirates (10-8, 5-0 MEAC) have won five straight matches.
 
"I was happy with our attack execution," head coach Karen Weatherington said. "We're trying to create more opportunities for us on offense, and we had another great team effort today. Solid blocking by the middles, and I liked our determination against an up-and-coming UMES team."
 
Senior rightside Vendula Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic) led the way with 17 kills, hitting .367 and tying the team high with nine digs. Senior outside hitter Krista Kraskura (Kuldiga, Latvia) added 12 kills and hit .375.
 
Senior setter Kitija Megne (Kuldiga, Latvia) had 36 assists; she also had five kills in six chances, hitting .833.
 
The Lady Pirates hit. 309 (45 kills, 15 errors in 97 attacks) for the match, while holding UMES (8-12, 1-4 MEAC) to just .093 (28 kills, 20 errors in 86 attacks) hitting.
 
Hampton led 7-4 early in the first set after a kill from senior outside hitter Marija Kocevska (SkopjeKarpos, Macedonia), and a kill from senior outside hitter Sonja Maksimovic (Belgrade, Serbia) later in the set put the Lady Pirates up 13-8.
 
UMES scored the next three points, cutting the lead to 13-11, before the Lady Pirates went on a 5-0 run to go up 18-11 after Strakova and Kocevska teamed on a block. The Lady Pirates later held a 23-15 lead, before UMES went on a 3-0 spurt.
 
Strakova and Kraskura registered kills on the next two rallies for Hampton to take the set 25-18.
 
That momentum carried into the second set, as the Lady Pirates held an early 7-2 lead after a kill from Strakova. Megne added a kill later in the set to give Hampton an 11-7 lead, before UMES scored the next three points to cut the deficit to one.
 
UMES later tied the set at 14-14, before the Lady Pirates scored four of the next five points, going up 18-15 after a kill from Kocevska. UMES cut the lead to 18-17, but the Lady Pirates closed the set on a 7-1 run, taking the second set 25-18 on a kill from Strakova.
 
The Lady Pirates hit a team-best .357 (14 kills, four errors in 28 attacks) in the third set, a frame that saw five ties and three lead changes. A kill from Kraskura gave the Lady Pirates an 8-6 lead early in the set, before UMES clawed back to tie the set at 12-12.
 
Hampton answered by scoring six of the next seven points, going up 18-13 after back-to-back kills from Kraskura. UMES closed to within 21-17, but the Lady Pirates rattled off three straight points, forcing match point, 24-17, after a kill from Maksimovic.
 
UMES scored the next three points, but Strakova ended the run – and the match – with a kill.
 
"We put together great play and execution," Weatherington said, "which will help up heading into Tuesday's match against a tough A-1o0 foe. We look forward to having a chance to step up our game heading into a crucial time of the season."
 
The Lady Pirates will return to Holland Hall on Tuesday to take on VCU at 7 p.m. 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.