Freeman's Career Day Leads Volleyball to Split in D.C.

Freeman's Career Day Leads Volleyball to Split in D.C.

Washington, D.C. -- Freshman outside hitter Carmen Freeman (Memphis, Tenn./St. Mary's) recorded two double-doubles to help the UMBC Volleyball team (6-6) to a split on the first day of the GW Tournament in Washington, D.C.

Freeman had 15 kills and 15 digs as Delaware took down the Retrievers in five sets (25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 18-25, 15-10)  in the first match, before setting a career high with 19 digs to go along with 10 kills in a four set win over Holy Cross (18-25, 25-19, 25-14, 25-13) in the nightcap.

After Holy Cross (3-9) took the first set, the Retrievers dominated the rest of the way, holding the Crusaders to a .006 hitting percentage for the match. Abbie Mirabella (Hockessin, Del./St.Mark's) and Krytsia Negron (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Colegio Adianez) both had double-doubles as Mirabella had 10 kills and 11 digs, while Negron had match-best 32 assists to go along with 10 digs.

Ashley Ramos (Orlando, Fla./Liberty/Monroe JC) hit .360 with 10 kills and four blocks. Junior Taylor Alexander (Detroit, Mich./Detroit Country Day School) made the start at libero, her first ever start and had a career high 16 digs, while sophomore Brooke Hayden (Mt.Airy, Md./Linganore) had 12 digs and classmate Franchesca Reed (Aurora, Colo./Grand View) had six kills and five blocks. Freshman Nikiya Mitchell (Bryan's Road, Md./Henry E. Lackey) set several career-highs with three kills, four blocks and three aces.

The first set against the Blue Hens started out tight, with neither team getting more than a two point advantage on each other. Delaware (1-7) would begin to pull away late, as they ended the set on a 4-0 run to win 25-18.

The second set would be another set of runs, as each team had multiple runs to take the lead or tie the set. UMBC, however, would end the set on a 3-0 run to take the second set 25-21. The third set continued the trends, as it was a close set to begin before Delaware got out to a five point lead and never looked back en route to a 25-17 set victory.

The Retrievers came out strong in the fourth set, getting out to an early 6-1 lead. Delaware brought it to within one a few times, but UMBC would push the lead to seven and eventually win going away, 25-18, to force a deciding fifth set.

The fifth was a tight, back-and-forth affair as the score was tied at eight halfway through the set. Delaware, would go on a pivotal 5-0 run at that point and eventually win the set, 15-10 to take the match.

Freeman, fresh off being named America East Rookie of the Week, had four blocks, while junior libero Kristin Watson (Bowie, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) returned to the lineup after missing three matches due to illness and had a team-best 21 digs.

UMBC concludes the GW tournament with a matchup against host George Washington tomorrow at 2:30.