Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TUCSON, Ariz. – The Coppin State and UMBC volleyball teams took their neighborhood rivalry 2,319 miles west to the desert. They treated the University of Arizona fans in attendance at the McKale Center to a high-definition display of quality volleyball -- Baltimore style.
 
The Eagles and Retrievers went toe-to-toe like heavyweight fighters in the center of the ring before Coppin State emerged with a 3-2 unanimous decision in a thrilling non-conference contest Friday afternoon. For the Eagles, it was the perfect way to conclude a long day of volleyball.
 
Coppin State (6-6 overall) split its matches at the Wildcat Invitational Friday. The Eagles dropped a 3-0 decision to 20th-ranked Arizona in a match much more competitive than the score indicated. The Wildcats (10-1) beat the Eagles, 25-13, 25-23 and 25-18.
 
Coppin State was able to recover from losing the first set to UMBC and being pushed to the limit by a determined Retreiver squad looking to earn a measure of revenge.
 
However, thanks to a balanced attack, the Eagles were able to beat UMBC (5-6) for the second time in six days, 22-25, 25-23, 25-17, 18-25, 15-13. Coppin State rallied from deficits of 8-6 and 10-8 in the fifth set to claim victory. Late in the match following a Coppin State timeout, the Eagles got huge plays from Maya Horner, Cindy Okpegbue, Ariel Richard and Kandace Thomas.
 
Thomas and Richard combined for 22 kills. Thomas, the MEAC's leader in hitting percentage, paced Coppin State against UMBC with 12 kills and a .300 hitting percentage. Richard finished with 10 kills. Okpegbue finished with nine kills in each match to move past Indira Laurencin and into fifth place all-time in Coppin State program history. She now has 682 kills in her stellar career.
 
Horner was a double threat with seven kills and eight digs. Chelsee Sauni had a blast setting up her teammates as she finished with 45 assists. Sauni now has 2,287 assists. Gabrielle Otero was everywhere collecting a match-high 24 digs. Bailee Jackson backed Otero with 13 digs.
 
In the match against the Wildcats, Coppin State made them earn the win by playing hard. In the second set, Coppin State cut Arizona's lead to 18-17. Even when the Wildcats scored six of the next eight points to grab a 24-19 lead, Coppin State made Arizona sweat by scoring the next four points.
 
The Eagles came out swinging in the third set grabbing an early, 10-7, lead.
 
In the match against Arizona, Okpegbue paced the Eagles with nine kills. Richard added eight kills. Kendra Ireigbe and Okpegbue had four block assists each.
 
Coppin State concludes the Wildcat Classic Saturday when it meets Tulane at 1:30 p.m. Eastern time. Tulane lost to UMBC, 3-2, and Arizona, 3-0 in its matches Friday to fall to 1-10 overall. This will be the first meeting between Tulane and Coppin State.
 
NOTES: Coppin State improved to 5-2 overall this season on neutral courts…The Eagles also improved to 6-2 overall when they record 40 or more kills in a match…This was Coppin State's second consecutive five-set triumph after dropping its first two this season…The Eagles are 2-2 overall in five-set matches this season.