Friday's Dig Pink match highlights volleyball homestand

BALTIMORE – The Coppin State volleyball team can finally kick its legs up, throw on its desired Snuggie, relax in its favorite recliner with the remote control in hand, sip some hot tea and enjoy the comforts of home for a change.

The Lady Eagles (7-11 overall, 4-3 MEAC) begin a three-match homestand, their longest of the season when it hosts Norfolk State (2-16, 1-4) in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) match Friday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Auxiliary Gym.

It will also be Coppin State's annual "Dig Pink" match. About one in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime according to breastcancer.org. The "Dig Pink" cause benefits the Side-Out Foundation's breast cancer support and research. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the match.

Fans that make a donation will receive a cupcake or a brownie. There will also be educational materials on hand for fans.

After playing its first 13 matches on the road, Coppin State will not leave the state of Maryland until after it wins the MEAC Tournament next month at Maryland Eastern Shore.

The homestand is also significant as its serves as the curtain call for the winningest senior class in Coppin State volleyball history (Denali Sturgeon, Chelsee Sauni, Cindy Okpegbue and Kendra Ireigbe). The greatest show this side of Jay-Z and Beyonce's "On the Run" Tour is coming to an end with three on-campus performances remaining.

The match against Norfolk State begins a furious sprint to finish line of the 2015 regular season. Coppin State will host Hampton (Sunday), Delaware State (Friday, Oct. 30), before visiting UMES (Sunday, Nov. 1) and Morgan State (Sunday, Nov. 8) to end the season. First things first, this weekend is a chance for Coppin State to rebound from Sunday's loss at Howard.

Coppin State is in great position to qualify for the MEAC Tournament for a fourth consecutive season. Should Coppin State win all three home matches against teams it already defeated on the road and who have combined for a 5-51 overall record this season, the Lady Eagles will officially be part of the MEAC's postseason party.

Coppin State has been getting contributions from everybody under first-year head coach Kyetta May. Sauni and Okpegbue have led the way for the Lady Eagles this season. With 1,135 career kills, Okpegbue is third in the MEAC in kills per set (3.41) and points per set (3.89). She has two matches this season with 20 or more kills, including a season-best 21 in her last time on the home stage against Morgan State on Oct. 16.

Sauni is Coppin State's all-time leader in assists with 3,541. She leads the MEAC in assists per set (8.95). She has eight matches with at least 30 assists this season. Sophomore Glory Rosado leads the MEAC with five matches with at least 20 or more digs. She is third in the conference in digs per set (4.17).

In Coppin State's last two matches last week against Morgan State and Howard, sophomore Bailee Jackson has registered double-digit kills. She had her third double-double against Morgan State and led the Lady Eagles with 12 kills against Howard. She has recorded double-digit kills in three of her last four matches. Jackson has 100 kills this season. She had 11 as a freshman.

Freshman Samantha Polk has averaged 10 kills in her last four matches.

HERE'S A LOOK AT COPPIN STATE'S WEEKEND OPPONENTS

NORFOLK STATE: Senior Angie Darcus hit a career-high .484 and finished with 18 kills to lead a Spartan attack that hit a season-best .321 in a 3-0 victory over Delaware State last Sunday. Darcus is eighth in the MEAC in kills per set (3.07) and ninth in points (3.46). Darcy Moore, who is 6th in the MEAC in assists, had 34 against Delaware State. Coppin State has won four straight matches against the Spartans.

HAMPTON: Freshman Lena Washington was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Rookie of the Week. She posted back-to-back double-doubles of kills and digs against Norfolk State and Maryland Eastern Shore last weekend. She finished with 10 kills, 10 digs, eight blocks, and two assists in a 3-2 win over Norfolk State on Friday, which was Hampton's first victory of the season. On Saturday, she had 10 kills and 14 digs against UMES, hitting a team-best .333 in the process. She averaged 10.0 kills, 12.0 digs and 4.0 blocks in the two matches. Freshman Reeana Richardson is seventh in the MEAC in kills per set (3.22), sixth in points (3.71) and 10th in service aces (0.30). She had 28 kills in the first meeting against Coppin State on Sept. 27.

MORE ON DIG PINK: Please donate to the cause online at: https://www.side-out.org/cb/campaigns/campaign/10939

NEXT UP: Coppin State plays its final home game of the regular season Friday night when it hosts Delaware State and it will celebrate the magnificent careers of the Lady Eagles seniors.

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Players Mentioned

#4 Kendra Ireigbe: MB; 5' 11"; Senior

#11 Bailee Jackson: OH; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#2 Cindy Okpegbue: OH; 5' 8"; Senior

#13 Chelsee Sauni: S; 5' 4"; Senior

#5 Denali Sturgeon: OH; 5' 11"; Senior

#8 Samantha Polk: OH; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#4 Kendra Ireigbe
: 5' 11"; Senior
: MB

#11 Bailee Jackson
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: OH

#2 Cindy Okpegbue
: 5' 8"; Senior
: OH

#13 Chelsee Sauni
: 5' 4"; Senior
: S

#5 Denali Sturgeon
: 5' 11"; Senior
: OH

#8 Samantha Polk
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: OH