PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has a new program for men’s volleyball. They have been doing well this season, currently sitting at 10-5 overall.
UMES Outside Hitter, Tavion Ford says the team chemistry is at an all-time-high.
“My favorite thing about the team is our energy, we’re just a big energy group, and it’s awesome being on a team where everybody feeds off each other.”
The Hawks are 5-0 at home and have dominated many matches, but especially those at the Hytche Athletic Center. The Hawks are rising, and Head Coach Dr. Anitra Brockman tells WMDT the significance.
“But most importantly, understanding the history behind being the first D1 HBCU, so just on and off the court, they are just a strong, united brotherhood.”
Coach Brockman says it’s because of support the team receives from UMES admins like Dr. Heidi Anderson and the student body who go to the home games.
“Without that support, we wouldn’t be able to defend our home-court, and continue the mission that we are on, to show that diversity belongs in this sport.”
UMES Freshman Joshua Hightower says the strong brotherhood has led to the success. “This brotherhood is special, Coach Brockman has done an amazing job building the culture. We started before doing Zoom meetings, doing team-building activities, so when we got to campus, it made things easier for us to mesh, it’s a brotherhood, it’s a family.”
Adding that the goal is to go 1 and 0 every day in practice. “I mean, it starts in the practice; we are in the practice gym communicating and working on the things we need to work on, so when we get to the game, it makes the game easier,” said Hightower.
