Lowell, MA –Coppin State Volleyball (0-15) started strong but eventually fell 3-1 to the University of Massachusetts – Lowell (4-9) today with set scores of 25-21, 15-25, 19-25, and 16-25. Coppin was led by
Bailee Jackson (9 points, 9 kills, 8 digs),
Asia Stennis (8.5 points, 8 kills, 5 digs), and
Marlena Guice (8 points, 7 Kills, 1 assist). The Lady Eagles last played UMass Lowell in 1992.
In the first set, Coppin flew out the gate quickly and took a quick 4-2 lead after kills by Jackson and Stennis both from
Dominique Madarang. The Lady Eagles would then go on a key four point run which included a
Glorines Rosado ace and multiple kills from Stennis and one from Guice to push the lead to 8-4. The Lady Eagles would get another three point run and a four point run which would prove to be pivotal in the first set. With a 17-10 lead, Coppin and UMass Lowell would begin to trade points. UMass Lowell would outscore Coppin 5-2 and close the score to a 19-15 Coppin lead. Guice would give Coppin extra cushion after two straight kills and a 21-15 score. UMass Lowell would narrow the score to a 23-21 Coppin lead before the Lady Eagles would wrap up the first set with a 25-21 score.
UMass Lowell bounced back in the second set as both teams traded points early. Down 3-4, Coppin would go on a three point run and take a 6-4 lead. UMass would tie it up at 6 and again at 7. The Riverhawks would then go on a 8-1 scoring run and take a commanding 8-15 lead. The Lady Eagles would struggle to regain the momentum they had in the first set and would continue to be outscored by the Riverhawks to lose the second set 15-25.
Coppin would begin the third set looking a little bit more refreshed and take a 4-2 lead after a kill by Stennis from Madarang. Both teams would continue to tie the score for each of the fifth through eighth points until the Riverhawks went on a 5-1 run. With the score 9-13, Coppin would close the gap to 11-13 with the spark provided by a Jackson kill from
Angel Jamerson. The two point deficit would be the closest Coppin would get for the remainder of the set as UMass Lowell. The Riverhawks would take the set 19-25 after outscoring the Lady Eagles 8-12.
The Lady Eagles were grounded in the fourth and final set of the match as the Riverhawks took a 4-8 lead. Coppin would close the gap to a 7-7 score taking advantage of attack errors by UMass Lowell and a Jackson kill from Madarang. Coppin wouldn't have any more scoring runs larger than two as the Riverhawks pulled away and took the match win after closing the set at 16-25.
UP NEXT
Coppin returns to action tomorrow as they face American East Conference member the University of Hartford. The match will begin at 2pm and will streamed live on
American East TV.
