BALTIMORE – UMBC freshman Sherelle Walker (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) notched her first two career double-digit kill performances and recorded a total of 45 kills in the tournament as the Retrievers swept tournament host Morgan State, 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-11), but fell to St. John's, 3-1 (25-20, 29-27, 23-25, 25-14), Saturday at the Battle at the Bay at Hill Field House.
For her efforts, Walker was named to the All-Tournament Team as the Retrievers finish the weekend with a 2-2 mark
In the day's first match against Morgan State (0-3), the Retrievers hit .278 in the match, aided by Walker's 10 kills, while limiting the Bears to just a .013 hitting percentage.
Freshman setter Paige Miller (Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) recorded 25 assists, one off of her pace from Friday's match against Coppin State, spreading the offense around as seven Retrievers recorded a kill. Sophomore Hannah Schmidt (Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) continued her hot start by posting eight kills and eight digs against Morgan State.
The Retrievers took the initiative in the match, winning the first three points and raced out to an early six point cushion, 12-6, thanks to three kills from Schmidt. UMBC then reeled off eight of the next 11 points to take a commanding 20-9 lead and never looked back, taking the opening set, 25-16.
The visitors opened the second frame in a similar fashion, this time winning the opening five points behind good defense and two kills from senior Ali Loynachan (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair). UMBC continued to pour it on, widening the gap by utilizing a versatile attack and finished the set off, 25-12, on a kill by Walker from Loynachan.
The third set continued the trend as Walker and Loynachan each recorded kills to give UMBC an early 3-0 lead following a service error on the opening point. After the Retrievers steadily opened up a four-point lead, 10-6, they ran away with the set by winning nine of the next 11 points and coasted to a 25-11 set win.
In the evening match against St. John's, the freshmen came up huge for the Retrievers as Walker set a new career-high with 21 kills and Miller recorded 40 assists in the four set loss. Schmidt also had a strong performance, recording her second double-double on the young season with a 12 kill, 11 dig effort.
In the opening set, neither team could pull away from the other resulting in four early ties. UMBC then took the upper hand, building a four point lead, 16-12, after a kill by Walker, assisted by junior Ali Goc (Oshawa, Ontario/R.S. McLaughlin). The Red Storm turned the tables quickly, however, winning 13 of the next 17 points to come from behind and take set one, 25-20.
Set two saw St. John's continue its hot streak and run out to a quick 8-2 lead. The Retrievers chipped away at the lead and eventually held off a St. John's set point as junior Emily Witsaman (Medina, Ohio/Medina) forced extra play with a kill. The two teams then traded points before St. John's claimed a 29-27 set win on a kill by Sabina Piegza.
In set three, the Retrievers were forced to rally again, leveling the set at seven and then again 14 all. After the teams tied yet again at 23 points apiece, Walker registered a kill to give the Retrievers a lead before a ball handling error gave them the set, 25-23.
UMBC could not keep the momentum though as St. John's raced out to another lead in the fourth set, this time a 13-4 advantage. After falling behind 22-5, the Retrievers rallied to pull within 24-14, but could not stop the Red Storm who took the match with a 25-14 fourth set win
The Retrievers return to the court on Tuesday when they travel to take on George Mason in Fairfax, Va. at 7 p.m.
DAWG BITES
- The Retrievers are now 39-2 all-time against the Bears and have won each of the last six contests between the two programs.
- St. John's now holds a 3-1 lead in the all-time series with UMBC.
- Three of the four contests between the squads have gone to four sets.
