Women's Volleyball | 11/21/2014 10:01:00 PM
BALTIMORE – After an emotional come-from-behind victory to begin the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) tournament, the Coppin State volleyball team faces its next challenge in Hampton University in a semifinal match beginning at noon in the Physical Education Complex.
This will be the third meeting between the teams this season and fourth in a little over a year. The Eagles (14-13 overall) are looking to achieve their ultimate goal of winning a MEAC title. In order to do so, Coppin State must literally knock out the reigning MEAC champion Lady Pirates (19-10).
The other semifinal features Florida A&M and Howard at 3:30 p.m.
Coppin State will look to solve the Hampton riddle for the first time this season. The Eagles dropped a 3-2 decision at home on Oct. 3 and a 3-1 contest at Hampton on Oct. 24. In each match, Coppin State won the opening set only to watch the Lady Pirates find a way to win each time.
However, none of that matters to the Eagles as those matches are ancient history and have no bearing on the third meeting. Both teams know each other well so there won't be many surprises when they clash. The Eagles beat Bethune-Cookman, 3-2, while Hampton eliminated North Carolina Central, 3-0, in Friday's quarterfinals.
The Eagles were paced by junior first-team All-MEAC
Cindy Okpegbue's 22 kills, the 10th time in her career she recorded at least 20 in a match. It was a welcomed sight for Eagles fans as Okpegbue had combined 11 kills in her last two matches. Freshman
Maya Horner added 16 kills for the Eagles.
Hampton was led against North Carolina Central by MEAC Player of the Year Vendula Strakova, who recorded 18 kills and 10 digs for her 18th double-double of the season. Strakova hit .467 to pace the Lady Pirates offensively. Kitja Megne registered 19 assists, while Allysa Medina led the way on the defense with 13 digs.
In two matches against Hampton this season, Coppin State had a .224 hitting percentage. Okpegbue averaged 18 kills in two matches against the Lady Pirates this season. Horner was the Eagles' best hitter against Hampton this season as she registered a .298 hitting percentage. She had 14 of her 21 kills against Hampton in an Oct. 3 match.
Ariel Richard averaged 12 kills per match against the Lady Pirates.
Strakova, the eight-time MEAC Player of the Week – and the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year, leads the nation in total kills and ranks in the top 10 in the MEAC in points, hitting percentage, kills, aces, and digs. She is also second in the nation in kills per set and points per set. She had 27 kills and 11 digs against Coppin State on Oct. 3.
The winner of this match advances to Sunday's MEAC Volleyball Championship, which will be televised live on ESPN3. The match is scheduled for noon and will air on ESPNU at 9 p.m. in a tape-delayed broadcast.
