Coppin falls short to Howard, 3-1

BALTIMORE --- The Coppin State volleyball team concluded the first half of its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division schedule with a 3-1 setback to visiting Howard University Sunday afternoon in the Auxiliary Gym.
 
With seven regular season matches remaining and six against conference opponents, Coppin State slipped to 3-3 in the MEAC North and 9-10 overall. Howard (11-9 overall, 4-1 MEAC North) expanded its edge over Coppin State in the MEAC North standings by two in the loss column by winning 21-25, 25-20, 26-24, 25-20.
 
While the defeat was tough, the Eagles know there's plenty of volleyball remaining this season to achieve their ultimate goal of being the last team standing. The second half of the conference schedule offers Coppin State an opportunity to deliver some punishing paybacks beginning with its next two matches Sunday afternoon at home against Morgan State and Friday, Oct. 24 on the road at Hampton.
 
Leading the Eagles against Howard was junior Cindy Okpegbue, who had 18 kills. Senior Kandace Thomas added 12 kills and a .438 hitting percentage. In Coppin State's two matches over the weekend, Thomas averaged 10.5 kills. Freshman Maya Horner (nine kills) and Kendra Ireigbe (eight) combined for 17 kills. Overall, the Eagles finished with 53 kills for the second consecutive match. It was also the fourth straight match in which the Eagles had at least 50 kills.
 
Junior setter Chelsee Sauni was solid delivering 47 assists. Ireigbe also had two blocks to raise her career total to 200, the second Coppin State volleyball player in program history to reach that magical mark.
 
For the second time in four matches, senior Gabrielle Otero collected 21 digs. It was the fourth time this season she had 20 or more digs in a match this season. Nicole Malvae-Adams tied a season-high with 12 digs.
 
Coppin State started strong by winning the opening game for the fifth straight match. The Eagles used a .406 hitting percentage to win the first set, 25-20. After falling behind, 6-2, the Eagles roared by back behind 17 kills to claim the opener. After dropping the next two games, Coppin State appeared to be in prime position to force a decisive fifth game, leading 19-15.
 
Howard finished with 18 blocks. Assata Conway had 13 kills and seven blocks to lead Howard. Katherine Broussard had a double-double (10 kills, 14 digs). Khalia Donaldson led the Lady Bison with 15 kills. Stephanie Shultis collected 45 assists.
 
Coppin State remains home to face rival Morgan State Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Howard hosts Morgan State Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. The loser of that match will have two conference losses.