TOWSON, Md. – The Coppin State volleyball team started its 2015 season with a 3-1 setback to Manhattan College in the Towson Invitational at SECU Arena on Friday afternoon.
The Eagles (0-1 overall) mounted a furious rally and played strong before falling short by scores of 17-25, 18-25, 25-17, 24-26. Pacing Coppin State during the match was senior preseason All-MEAC selection
Cindy Okpegbue, who delivered a match-high 17 kills. It was the 43rd time in her stellar career that she has finished with double-digit kills in a match.
At 3:28 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Coppin State senior
Chelsee Sauni recorded her 3,000th career assist. It was meaningful as it helped the Eagles stretch their third set advantage to 22-17. She finished with a match best 40 assists. Now the road to 4,000 begins for the preseason All-MEAC selection.
"I thought Chelsee did a nice job of spreading the ball around today," Coppin State first year coach
Kyetta May said. "There were some positives that we can build off of as we go through our season."
Senior
Kendra Ireigbe closed in on a milestone with her 12 kill and five block performance. Ireigbe needs two blocks to move past Brittany Arvin and become Coppin State's all-time leader in that category. Overall, Coppin State finished with 17 blocks as a team.
Sauni was also one of three Coppin State players to finish with double-digit digs. She had 10. Freshman
Marlena Guice posted a solid showing in her collegiate debut with 11 digs and nine kills. Sophomore Glory Rosado had a match-high 20 digs.
Leading Manhattan (2-0) was Milena Janjusevic (15 kills) and Claire Van Dyk (12). Jade Gray had 39 assists.
Coppin State returns to action Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. when it meets Tennessee at Towson's SECU Arena.
