Notes

BALTIMORE, Md. – The Hampton University volleyball team will head to Charm City for a pair of conference matches this weekend, taking on Morgan State on Friday evening before paying Coppin State a visit on Sunday.
 
Schedule of Matches: Hampton at Morgan State, Friday at 7 p.m.; Hampton at Coppin State, Sunday at 3 p.m.
 
Last Time Out: The Lady Pirates (1-18, 1-5 MEAC) fell in straight sets to Maryland Eastern Shore this past Saturday, a day after they picked up their first win of the season at Norfolk State in five sets.
 
The Opponents: The Lady Pirates are 7-36 all-time against Morgan State, and the Bears won the first meeting this season in four sets. Prior to that, Hampton has won five of six over the Bears. Hampton is 37-8 against Coppin State, despite a five-set loss earlier this season.
 
About Morgan State: The Bears, under long-time head coach Ramona Riley-Bozier, are 7-13 overall and 4-2 in MEAC play. Morgan State heads into the weekend having won five of its last seven matches, despite a five-set loss to Coppin State this past Friday.
 
About Coppin State: The Eagles, in the first season under head coach Kyetta May, are 7-11 overall and 4-3 in MEAC paly heading into this weekend's action. Coppin State has lost two of its last three matches are falling to Howard in straight sets this past Sunday.
 
Lady Pirates Picked to Finish Third: Despite winning the last two MEAC championships, Hampton was picked to finish third in the conference's Northern Division this season in a preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The Lady Pirates received four first-place votes in the poll. Howard, with 18 first-place votes, was picked to win the MEAC North, with Florida A&M being the preseason favorite to take the MEAC Southern Division.
 
From Defense to Offense: Allysa Medina was the team's libero last season, averaging 2.59 digs per set. She notched double-digit digs 16 times in 2014, including a career-high 18 in the semifinals of the MEAC Tournament against Coppin State. But Medina will be back on offense in her senior season, moving back to the outside. In 2013, Medina showed an impressive leaping ability and power, and this past weekend she had a career-high 13 kills against East Carolina en route to All-Tournament honors at the Wildcat Classic. She is averaging 2.08 kills and a team-best 2.63 digs per set so far this season.
 
Sister Act: One year after Ravyn Richardson joined the Lady Pirates, her younger sister Reeana Richardson has done the same. The Ellicott City, Md. natives both play on the outside, and Reeana boasts a vertical leap that can reach as high as 10 feet. Reeana is sixth in the MEAC in points, seventh in kills, and 10th in aces, and she had 28 kills against Coppin State on Sept. 27. She also had 10 digs for her first career double-double.
 
Plugging Up the Middle: Kyndall Nicholas and Lena Washington are among the MEAC's best at the net through the first few weeks of conference play; Nicholas is currently fourth in the conference in blocks, while Washington is ninth. They combined for 14 blocks in the Lady Pirates' five-set win at Norfolk State this past weekend.
 
Youth is Served: With five starters gone from last year's squad, this year's Lady Pirates team could be one of the nation's youngest. There are six freshmen — including five true freshmen — this season to go along with five sophomores. The 2015 Lady Pirates have just one senior — Medina — and transfers Brianna Lilly and Alexandra Erhart and the team's lone juniors.
 
Lilly Latest in a Long Line: The Lady Pirates have been strong at setter in recent years with the likes of Bibiany Fonseca and Kitija Megne, and Temple College transfer Brianna Lilly is the latest to take the mantle. She was named NTJCAC Setter of the Year last season, ranking 25th in the nation in assists per set and going the entire season committing just 12 errors. Lilly is ninth in the MEAC in assists (5.91/set).
 
Stojilovic, Erhart Continuing the Tradition: Hampton's emergence over the past several years has been due in large part to an influx of international talent, which continues this season with incoming freshman Olivera Stojilovic, who hails from Serbia, and France native Alexandra Erhart. The 6-foot Stojilovic can play up the middle or on the outside, and she was a two-time champion in the Second League of Vojvodina in 2012 and 2013. She also played in the First League of Vojvodina, Division Center, First Team.
 
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.