Box Score Baltimore, MD. -- November 6, 1992 may not ring a bell for most people.
However, for those wearing the Coppin State blue and gold, it was a significant time in Coppin State athletics history because that was the last time that they won a match in the MEAC Volleyball Tournament.
Last night, the Lady Eagles got it done again in front of their supporters at the Physical Education Complex as they defeated Bethune-Cookman 25-22, 27-25 and 25-20 in the MEAC Volleyball Tournament quarterfinals.
This was Coppin State's seventh consecutive win overall and ninth consecutive home win, which are both program records right now.
In an ironic twist, it was Bethune-Cookman that Coppin had defeated 3-0 at the Coppin Center in 1992.
Coppin head coach
Ashley Preston knew what she was getting into with a Bethune-Cookman team who is always a tough out when it came to tournament time. Preston said, "I thought Bethune-Cookman is just a very athletic team. They know how to run in system. Our goal was to try to get them out of system as much as possible."
In the first couple of games, it came down to opportunities down the stretch in which Coppin found a way to win the close games.
In the first game, Coppin State was up 22-19 until the Wildcats made a run at them. Sophomore outside hitter
Cindy Okpegbue's kill attempt found the net, then B-CU's Rhea Simon pounded a service ace to the backcourt. Phylecia Armstrong and Alexas Thomas blocked sophomore outside hitter
Denali Sturgeon's kill attempt, then Armstrong executed a kill to tie the game at 22.
Coppin fought back beginning when Delicia Pierre, who led everyone with 22 kills, landed a kill attempt wide. Then Sturgeon came up with one of six Coppin service aces, followed by sophomore middle blocker
Kandace Thomas' kill to end game one.
In the second game, Bethune-Cookman overcame a 22-19 deficit again due to a couple of CSU errors plus a kill from Pierre. The Wildcats took the 23-22 lead on an ace from Jennifer Jimenez. Coppin State (14-15) took a timeout and then fought back.
They had three separate game point opportunities during the last exchange of the second game. Back-to-back kills from junior outside hitter
Ariel Richard gave the Lady Eagles a 24-23 advantage. Then a Pierre kill tied the game at 24. But a service error from Alexas Thomas gave Coppin a 25-24 lead. However, another Pierre kill tied the game again at 25. Nevertheless, kills from Sturgeon and Thomas put away the Wildcats and gave Coppin a 2-0 lead going into the 10-minute break.
In the last game, The Lady Eagles started well by scoring six of the first seven points of the game. Most of those points were due to Wildcat hitting errors. Coppin State would push the lead to as much as 14-8. Bethune-Cookman (6-25) outscored Coppin 7-1 due to CSU's hitting errors and the presence of Pierre with a kill and an ace. Kendra Irigbe's hitting error tied the game at 15.
Coppin State, however, broke back on top on a Pierre kill attempt landing on the net followed by back-to-back kills from Thomas to give Coppin an 18-15 advantage, forcing a Wildcat timeout.
The Wildcats fought back again with a Rhea Simon kill and Lauren Turner's service ace to draw B-CU within 18-17. That was as close as the Wildcats would get as a kill because CSU outscored the Wildcats 7-3 the rest of the way.
Okpegbue's kill attempt went off the B-CU double block and out to finish the match. Okpegbue led Coppin with 17 kills and a .538 hitting percentage on the night. Preston said that, "Cindy played an amazing game (tonight). It was just how it was set up. It leaned more towards Cindy being able to do what she wants to do. That was hitting line. She did a great job of terminating the ball when we needed her to."
Such history making accomplishments for Coppin State keep making Preston happy and aware of a journey she has her team on since she has been at Coppin. "My team is just great and they just continue to grow and build," said Preston. "It's been an amazing journey just from all of the accolades and accomplishments that they've had."
Sophomore setter
Chelsee Sauni led everyone with 39 assists while junior libero
Gabrielle Otero led all players with 23 digs for Coppin State.
Preston wants the ride to continue and her Lady Eagles have their shot at it as they take on the Southern Division top-seeded Florida A&M Rattlers at 3:30 pm on Saturday afternoon in the MEAC Volleyball Tournament semifinals inside the Physical Education Center.
