Volleyball captures Hawk Challenge with four victories, extends winning streak to five

(vs. Del. St.) / (vs. St. John's) / (vs. Niagara) / (vs. UMES)

10/1-2/04 -- Junior Melanie Fleig (Villingen, Germany) was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player with 60 kills and 37 digs, helping Long Island win the Hawk Challenge with victories over all four of its matches in Princess Anne, Md.

LIU (14-4) rolled to a 3-0 triumph (30-15, 30-17, 30-21) Friday over Delaware State before rallying for a 3-2 victory (20-30, 29-31, 30-25, 30-27, 15-12) against St. John's. The Blackbirds on Saturday notched a 3-0 win (30-25, 30-19, 30-19) against Niagara and a 3-0 decision (30-23, 30-24, 30-21) against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Fleig enjoyed a solid outing against Delaware State with 14 kills and just two errors for a .444 hitting percentage. Senior Cristina Pintilie (Cluj Napoca, Romania), who also made the all-tournament team, pounded 11 kills with sophomore Dana Demayo (Ra'anana, Israel) and junior Adela Igniska (Baia Mare, Romania) adding 10 apiece.

Against St. John's, LIU notched a .330 hitting percentage over the last three games, including .400 in game five with nine kills and only one error.

Fleig went on a tear against the Red Storm by posting 22 kills and 19 digs with Pintilie adding 24 kills. Demayo, also an all-tournament honoree, compiled 15 kills and 18 digs with senior Ivana Vasiljevic (Brcko, Bosnia & Herzegovina) dishing 58 assists.

This marked the second time in three outings the Blackbirds upended the Red Storm after dropping the first six.

LIU kept the momentum going Saturday with 54 kills and just 11 errors against Niagara. Demayo played solidly at the net with 17 kills, 10 digs and a .441 percentage. Fleig pounded 13 kills and Pintilie added 10.

The final match marked a homecoming for LIU coach Toby Rens, who guided UMES from 2001-03 and was tabbed Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002.

This time, it was Vasiljevic's turn to record a double-double with 28 assists and 15 digs as the Blackbirds moved to 4-0 all-time against the Hawks. Fleig, Demayo and Pintilie each added 11 kills.

This marked the Blackbirds second victory this season in a tournament, having won the Microtel Inn & Suites Chanticleer Classic from September 17-18 at Coastal Carolina University. LIU has won eight of its last nine matches and its five-match winning streak is two shy of the school record set in 2002.

LIU returns to action Tuesday at Saint Peter's for a 7:00 pm first serve.