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Baltimore, Md.—UMBC volleyball got a big contribution from senior Sherelle Walker (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) on Sunday with 11 kills and six blocks. The Retrievers defeated the River Hawks 3-0 (25-10, 26-24, 25-20) to improve to 11-11, 5-3 AE on the year.

The opening set was all UMBC, as the Retrievers pounced on the River Hawks (4-21, 1-7 AE) scoring the first six points of the match. UMBC would extend their lead to 15-7 after a Claudia Lopez (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico/Academia Maria Reina) kill forced an UMass Lowell timeout. From there, the Retrievers would give up just three points, winning the set 25-10 to take a 1-0 lead.

UMass Lowell would come out swinging in the second set. The River Hawks used a quick 5-1 run to force Head Coach Ian Blanchard to call a timeout. UMBC would claw back, taking a 10-9 lead on a Maddie Schneider (Olathe, Kan./Olathe Northwest) kill. From there both sides would take turns with the lead but it was UMBC with the last laugh, getting back to back kills from Schneider and junior Zoya Trendafilova (Sofia, Bulgaria/Elisaveta Bagryana) to win the set 26-24.

After the break, the Retrievers raced in front and never looked back. UMBC would take their biggest lead of the set at 19-13 when Walker laid down one of her 11 kills on the day. The Retrievers won the set 25-20, and the match 3-0.

Walker had 11 kills on 14 swings for a .786 hitting percentage. The Pennsylvania native added one dig and six blocks. Trendafilova added nine kills, while freshman Makenzie Morgen (Appleton, Wisc./Appleton East) had eight winners. Rookie setter Krytsia Negron (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Colegio Adianez) recorded a double-double with 19 assists and 15 digs.

UMBC will return to action with a pair of road matches at Binghamton and Albany next Friday and Sunday.