HAMPTON, Va. – The Lady Pirates volleyball team pushed league-leading Maryland Eastern Shore on Thursday night but dropped a four-set Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Division match to the Hawks 25-22, 15-25, 25-19, 25-12.

The first set saw six ties and a couple lead changes as after a Hawks serving error Hampton tied the score at 13-all.  The visitors went on a 7-3 flurry to lead 20-16, though Hampton trimmed that to two four occasions before a Rachel Kayongo kill gave them a 25-22 first set.

Hampton came out blistering in the second set jumping out to a 10-4 lead early off a Kyndall Nicholas kill.  UMES went on a 9-4 run to trim the deficit to 14-13 off a kill by Iva Vujosevic.  The Pirates went on an 8-1 run capped by a Lena Washington service ace to lead 22-14 en route to a 25-15 second set win.

In the third set, Hampton jumped out to an 11-7 lead off a Reeana Richardson kill.  The leaders of the Northern Division responded with a 12-2 run as a Kayongo kill put them up 18-13.  Hampton trimmed the deficit to 21-19 after another Richardson kill, but the guests scored the last four points to win 25-19.  The final set saw the Hawks soar out to a 9-3 lead early and cruise to a 25-12 victory.

Nicholas and Lena Washington added six kills each and Kelci Dixon chipped in with five for Hampton.  Lena Reed-Petracek had 29 assists, while Maja Petronijevic topped the team in digs with 18.

Hampton turns right back around and ventures to Norfolk State on Friday night for a 6pm match.

For more information on Hampton University volleyball, please contact the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.