Esther Johnson finished with 18 kills to move into 3rd-place all-time at Morgan with 1,107.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 13, 2006)-For the Morgan State Lady Bears volleyball team, Wednesday night’s non-conference match against American was bitter sweet. The Lady Bears recorded the program’s first-ever game victory over the Eagles, however the end result was the same, as Morgan dropped a 1-3 (30-25, 28-30, 26-30, 26-30) decision at Bender Arena.
With the loss, the Lady Bears (4-5) dropped their 19th consecutive match in as many meetings against American and fell to 0-2 against Patriot League competition this season. Bucknell was the other loss.
On the bright side, Ivanti Bush equaled her career high with a match-high 22 kills and added 11 digs to record her fifth career double-double. Esther Johnson tallied seven of her 18 kills in the first game, giving her 1,107 career kills and moving her into third place all-time at Morgan State. Johnson also added 17 digs to give her a double-double.
The Lady Bears used a 5-0 run take a 19-15 lead and never trailed again. American pulled within 25-22, following a service error by Johnson, but would get no closer, as Morgan took the opening game 30-25. The win was the Lady Bears’ first game victory over American in school history.
In Game 2, Morgan State battled back from deficits of 16-12 and 20-14, before going on an 8-2 run to even the score at 22 all. Morgan reclaimed its first lead since scoring the first point of the game, on a kill by Johnson to put the guests up 25-24. The Lady Bears held a 28-27 advantage, but surrendered three straight points to the Eagles and fell 30-27.
Morgan State used an 8-1 run in the fourth game, to take an 11-7 lead, but the host Eagles stormed right back with a 14-5 run to take a 21-16 lead.
The Lady Bears return action on Sunday, Sept. 17, when they travel to Moontownship, Pa., to take on Robert Morris in a non-conference match at 1 p.m.
