BALTIMORE – Coppin State's
Cindy Okpegbue and
Bailee Jackson registered double-doubles during a tough 3-2 setback to visiting Hampton University Sunday afternoon in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) match in the Auxiliary Gym.
After Coppin State (8-12 overall, 5-4 MEAC) won the first set 25-16 in 17 minutes, Hampton (2-19, 2-6) claimed three of the next four sets by scores of 23-25, 24-26, 25-17, 9-15, to earn its second victory of the season and extend its winning streak on Coppin State's campus to seven straight.
Meanwhile, Coppin State fell to 2-3 at home this season and dropped to 4-1 this season in five-set matches.
Okpegbue led the Lady Eagles with 18 kills. In recording double-digit kills for the 56th time in her career, Okpegbue has finished with at least 18 kills in four of Coppin State's last five matches. Okpegbue, who also complemented her effort with 14 digs for her seventh career double-double and fifth this season, has 1,171 career kills.
Jackson posted her fourth double-double this season with 14 kills and 17 digs.
Denali Sturgeon was the hitting star for the Lady Eagles as she collected a season-high 14 kills on a .393 hitting percentage.
Samantha Polk also finished with double-digit kills as she had 11.
Chelsee Sauni had 52 assists while Glory Rosado ended with 16 digs.
During the fifth set, Coppin State fell behind 3-0 but rallied to knot the score at 4-4 before Hampton opened a 10-6 edge. After the Lady Eagles closed to 10-8 in the fifth set, Hampton ended the match by scoring five of the final six points. Coppin State also hit -.071 in the decisive fifth set.
The difference in the match was Hampton's activity at the net in which it finished with 26 blocking assists. Kyndall Nicholas had seven block assists including match point. Reeana Richardson led the Lady Pirates with 14 kills and 12 digs. Lena Washington added 12 kills. Allysa Medina (nine kills) and Mallory Beard combined for 26 digs. Brianna Lilly had a team-high 28 assists for Hampton.
Coppin State closes its home schedule out Friday night when it hosts Delaware State beginning at 7:00 p.m.
