Natalie Chafeh (14) had 28 assists, five kills and an .833 hitting percentage, Ashley Johnson (12) tallied a team-high 11 kills and a .529 hitting percentage.
Norfolk State 0, Morgan State 3
BALTIMORE, Md. (Oct. 23, 2011)-It's been four years since Morgan State has won three consecutive home matches, let alone three straight matches. The 2007 season was the last time that a Morgan State volleyball team has accomplished both feats. But behind a team-high 11 kills from Ashley Johnson, Morgan State picked up its third consecutive victory, following a 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-20) defeat of visiting Norfolk State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) North Division match on Sunday afternoon at Hill Field House.
Morgan State (6-17, 4-3 MEAC) improved to 15-1 all-time against the Spartans with the win. The Lady Bears closed out their season-long three-match home stand undefeated, while sweeping all three of their opponents, another feat that hadn't been done since 2007. The win was also a good start to the second half of the conference slate for the Lady Bears, who with the victory moved into second-place in the league standings.
Kierra Outlin and Janelle Wilson each added seven kills apiece, while Erin Cox chipped in with six. Outlin and Jourdan Lemons led the Lady Bears with seven digs each and Kylin Ellison and Cox finished with six digs. #Ngebui (Natalie) Chafeh#, who notched a match-high .833 hitting percentage on five kills on six attempts and no errors, had 28 assists in the win.
Norfolk State (7-12, 3-4 MEAC) was led by Beatriz Ferreira's match-high 13 kills and Adriana Ramos added 10. Tracey Copley finished with a match-high 11 digs and Megan Lavo notched a match-high 31 assists in a losing effort for the Spartans.
The Lady Bears held a 5.0-4.0 blocking advantage over the Spartans with Outlin leading the way with a team-high three blocks. Zuri Smith, Wilson and Cox all added two blocks apiece. Norfolk State was led by Charlotte Armstead, who tallied three blocks.
As a team the Lady Bears finished with a .380 hitting percentage, marking the third straight match that all of Morgan's hitters were in the positive. Along with Chafeh's .833 hitting percentage, five other Lady Bears (Johnson .529, Wilson .429, Cox .308, Outlin .211 and Smith .200) all hit .200 or better for the match. Norfolk State hit for .159 as a team.
Morgan State will be on the road for its next three matches, beginning with a weekend trip to the Tidewater area and a rematch against Norfolk State on Friday, Oct. 28 at Echols Hall. The Lady Bears wrap up the weekend with a match at Hampton on Sunday, Oct. 30.
