Washington D.C. – The UMBC volleyball squad shook off an opening set loss and went on to defeat the Howard Bison in four sets at Burr Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.
The Retrievers triumphed, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-21 and improved to 14-6 overall while Howard fell to 15-9.
Junior outside hitter
Mia Bilusic (Zagreb, Croatia, Prirodoslovna skola Vladimira Preloga) recorded a season-high 26 kills to lead all players while senior
Kamani Conteh (New Castle, Del., Wilmington Christian)added 16 kills. Junior libero
Aysia Miller (Mililani, Hawaii, Mililani) led UMBC defensively with 18 digs while freshman setter
Serin Maden (Ankara, Turkey, Tevfik Fikret) distributed 42 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Set 1: The Retrievers took a 17-15 advantage after a service ace by junior outside hitter Weronika Wrzesinska but the hosts went on an 8-4 burst to claim a 23-21 advantage. UMBC evened things up at 23-all after a block assist by sophomore middle blocker Mila Ilieva (Vidin, Bulgaria, PMG Ekzarh Antim I) and senior opposite hitter Emily Ferketic (Pittsburgh, Pa., Avonworth). However, freshman outside hitter Rya McKinnon recorded back-to-back kills for Howard as they took the opening set.
- Set 2: UMBC trailed 7-3 but went on a 7-2 run to claim their first lead after an ace by Miller. The hosts were within 16-15 after another kill by McKinnon, but the visitors recorded three straight kills and never looked back. Conteh recorded five kills down the stretch to help close the set out.
- Set 3: The Retrievers, who hit a match-high .438 in the set, ran out to a 9-4 advantage and were never seriously challenged. The hosts managed to close within 15-12 after a kill by McKinnon but UMBC responded with a 6-2 spurt to widen their lead to 21-14. Bilusic closed out the frame with four straight kills.
- Set 4: UMBC led the entire way in the final set as they opened up a 7-3 lead after an attack error by the Bison. The Retrievers took their largest lead of the set at 17-9 after a kill by Bilusic. The hosts made one final push as they managed to close within 24-21 but Bilusic finished off the match with another kill.
NOTES
- The Retrievers are now 9-3 against Howard and have won two straight in the all-time series.
- The 26 kills for Bilusic are the most in a four-set match in the America East this season.
- UMBC hit .239 (138 attempts, 54 kills, 21 errors) while Howard finished at .149 (148 attempts, 48 kills, 26 errors).
- McKinnon paced the Bison with 19 kills.
- UMBC will return to America East action when they host New Hampshire on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
