Jeniqua Moran had a match-high 14 kills to lead Morgan past rival Coppin State in MEAC opening round action.
HAMPTON, Va. (Nov. 17, 2006)-Jeniqua Moran tallied a team-high 14 kills and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, Ivanti Bush added 10, as the No. 2 seeded Morgan State Lady Bears defeated its crosstown rivals, seventh-seeded Coppin State, 3-0 (30-22, 30-18, 30-25) in a quarterfinal match of the MEAC Volleyball Championships, held at Holland Hall on the campus of Hampton University.
Morgan State’s Vashaye Ellegood had a match-high six blocks and second-team All-MEAC selection, Esther Johnson added four, as the Lady Bears out blocked Coppin State, 9.5-5.0 for the match.
The Lady Bears (22-8) took its largest lead of the opening game (29-17) on an assisted block by Ellegood and Johnson. Coppin State responded with a 5-0 run to pull within 29-22, before O’Tasha Williams ended the game on a kill.
In Game 2, the Lady Bears jumped to a 4-0 lead and held a 14-4 advantage. Morgan extended its lead to 29-14, on another block assist by Ellegood and Johnson and ended the game on a kill by Johnson for the 30-18 victory.
Facing elimination, the Lady Eagles scored the first four points in the third game, and held a 21-16 cushion. However, Morgan State regrouped and countered with a 5-0 run on an assisted block by Moran and Williams to tie the game at 21 all. Back-to-back kills by Johnson gave the Lady Bears a 23-22 lead, its first and only lead of the game. Morgan State would not look back, as it increased its lead to 28-24, before winning, 30-25.
Morgan’s Jentri Fullove finished with 34 assists, seven digs and a kill, while first-team All-MEAC selection, Ashley Preston had a team-high 13 digs.Jasmine George led Coppin State (8-21) with a double-double of 14 kills and 10 digs. Andrea McGant totaled a match-high 15 digs and Grace Lyon finished with 31 assists.
Morgan State will face North Carolina A&T later this evening in a semifinal match at 7:30 p.m. at Holland Hall.
