Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BALTIMORE – Though the Coppin State volleyball team has a single focus on winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship, sometimes it's good to pause along the ultimate road to glory to appreciate and savor significant accomplishments.
 
Coppin State's 3-0 triumph over cross-town foe UMBC at the RAC Saturday afternoon in the final match of the Madison Bingaman Tournament was one of those moments. The very tense and close 25-23, 25-20, 25-21 victory was the Eagles first in program history over the Retrievers.
 
In less than three years, Coppin State coach Ashley Preston has turned the Eagles into one of the best Division I programs in the Baltimore area and the MEAC. In each of the last two years, the Eagles have increased their win total and raised the bar of excellence for success. This season, the Eagles are 5-5 overall.
 
"To beat somebody you've never beaten before just solidifies us as a good program," Preston said. "I am happy to be part of history that's being made. The ladies showed what they are capable of when they play together as a team, are vocal and focused on small details. They realize that they can compete with anybody."
 
Two of Coppin State's victories this season are against Loyola and UMBC. The Eagles will play Morgan State twice during conference play so they will have an opportunity to become the volleyball queens of the city. The Eagles are excited about this latest win and the ramifications of it, but really they are only concerned with ultimately being the princesses of the MEAC on November 23.
 
Entering Saturday's match against the Retrievers, Coppin State was 0-14-1 all-time against UMBC with the tie coming in 1973, long before the Sugar Hill Gang's "Rappers Delight" became a classic tune. UMBC had won the last five meetings against Coppin State by 3-0 scores. This time, it was a better, talented and fearless Coppin State squad that turned the tables and handed UMBC (4-5) its fifth straight loss.
 
As usual, Coppin State showcased plenty of tenacity in closing out the afternoon by playing as a team. After a 3-0 loss to Eastern Michigan in the first match of the afternoon, the Eagles brought the racket like the Williams sisters against UMBC.
 
Everybody who played for Coppin State made significant contributions in the victory over UMBC. Junior Cindy Okpegbue enjoyed a season-high .400 hitting percentage after smashing a match-high 14 kills. She had backup as Kandace Thomas and Ariel Richard added eight kills each. On this day, Okpegbue, Thomas and Richard were the baddest trio since TLC.
 
Okpegbue and Thomas were named to the All-tournament team.
 
Nicole Malave-Adams was a double threat for Coppin State finishing with four kills and had 12 digs. Kendra Iriegbe had an active game with four kills and three blocks. Chelsee Sauni had 38 assists on the Eagles' 40 kills. Gabrielle Otero led the Eagles with 15 digs. Denali Sturgeon made her presence felt with crucial plays during the match.
 
During the Eastern Michigan match, Richard notched her 1,000th career kill. She has 1,008 for her outstanding career. In finishing with at least 30 assists for the ninth time this season, Sauni topped the 2,200 mark in her spectacular career. She has 2,216 career assists and is now 193 away from becoming the all-time program leader in that category.
 
The Eagles and Retrievers match featured 22 ties and nine lead changes. Coppin State dominated the second set as it led for much of that set. In the third set, there were seven lead changes and nine ties alone. The pivotal point of the third game came with CSU trailing, 18-17. With a  chance to continue writing its championship tale, Coppin State closed the match with a flourish, scoring eight of the final 12 points.
 
Against Eastern Michigan, Okpegbue (team-high 12 kills) and Richard combined for 21 of the Eagles' 38 kills. Sauni finished with 35 assists. Otero had a team-high 15 digs and Malave-Adams added 11 digs for Coppin State.
 
"We lost in three to Eastern Michigan, but we really fought in the first two sets," Preston said. "We made too many errors against EMU especially when we got into the 20s. Against UMBC, we made an effort that once we got to 20; we were going to close the game. We were capable of beating both teams if we minimized our errors, had a very good passing game and served well. We focused on those areas in practice this week and that's what helped us."
 
Coppin State and UMBC will play each other in six days. The Eagles will meet Friday night in the University of Arizona Classic beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. Coppin State begins the U of A event by playing the host Wildcats, members of the Pac-12 that advanced to the NCAA tournament last season, at 1:30 p.m. Coppin finishes the tournament by playing Tulane Saturday morning.