BALTIMORE – Eight different Retrievers recorded at least one kill, including a team-high nine from freshman Sherelle Walker (New Freedom, Pa./Susquahannock), as the UMBC volleyball team swept Howard, 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-8), Saturday evening on day two of the Maddie Bingaman Tournament at the RAC Arena.

UMBC (4-9) used an efficient hitting attack (.441) while limiting Howard (0-8) to an even efficiency (.000) and forcing 19 Bison errors.  The Retrievers also outdug the Bison, 29-18.

Freshman setter Paige Miller (Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) got her teammates involved early and often en route to recording 29 assists against the Howard.  Sophomore Hannah Schmidt(Catonsville, Md./Mount de Sales) racked up seven winners while junior Emily Witsaman (Medina, Ohio/Medina) and freshman Krystal Mlemchukwu (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech) each notched six put-aways.

Middle blocker Assata Conway led Howard with six kills and setter Stephanie Shultis registered 11 assists, two kills and two digs.

The Bison battled the Retrievers to open the first set, but could not hold off the impending strike as the hosts ran off five straight points, powered by three Schmidt kills, to take a 12-5 lead.  UMBC led from there on out, finishing the set on a 4-0 run to win the opener 25-14.

The second set got off to a similar flow as the Retrievers used a 10-1 run to open a 15-7 margin, finished off by a kill from Witsaman.  UMBC continued to dominate and frustrate the Bison, eventually taking a 2-0 set lead by claiming the second set 25-15.

UMBC got off to another hot start in the third set, breaking a 1-1 deadlock with five consecutive points and 17 of the next 20 to build an unassailable lead.  Junior Robbin Lee (Olney, Md./Sherwood) served out the match for the Retrievers with two straight service aces.

The Retrievers now head back on the road to take on St. Francis (Pa.) on Tuesday evening in Loretto, Pa.  The match between the Retrievers and the Red Flash is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

DAWG BITES

-           UMBC improves to 20-3 all-time against Howard and has now won the last nine meeting between the schools.

-          The Retrievers are now 4-4 in three set contests this season.

-          UMBC did not have someone record double-digit kills for the second time this season (vs. Arkansas 8/31).