Simone Durham had a team- and season-high 11 kills and collected three blocks Friday night at Delaware State.
Morgan State 2, Delaware State 3
DOVER, Del. (Oct. 7, 2011)-Delaware State's Jessica Russell-Croucher hit for a match-high .405, while recording 19 kills, 13 digs and a team-high four service aces to lead the Hornets to a 3-2 (30-32, 25-13, 25-13, 19-25, 15-8) Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) North Division victory over visiting Morgan State on Friday night at Memorial Hall.
Laisha Davis added 11 kills, while Sonja Banicevic notched a match-high 23 digs for the Hornets (3-12, 2-1 MEAC), who have now won eight straight matches against Morgan State. Christobel Fakaosi finished with 45 assists.
Morgan State (3-15, 1-1 MEAC) was led by Simone Durham, who tallied a team- and season-high 11 kills and Kierra Outlin added 10 kills for the Lady Bears. Outlin also added 16 digs to record a double-double and had a team-high four service aces, while Erin Cox finished with 16 digs to tie team-high honors.
The first set was tight throughout with neither team holding more than a two-point lead. The Lady Bears finally got back-to-back kills from Nangeeshie Plaud (five kills, eight digs) and Janelle Wilson (seven kills) to take the opener 32-30.
The hosts then regrouped and cruised to back-to-back 25-13 wins in Sets 2 and 3. Morgan State jumped out to a 6-2 cushion in the fourth set and led 20-15, following a service ace by Kylin Ellison. Delaware State would get within 21-18, but the guests closed out with a 4-1 run to win 25-19 and force a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, Delaware State broke a 4-4 tie by using an 8-1 spurt to go up 12-5 and take control of the set, before eventually winning 15-8.
The Lady Bears finished the match with 40 kills and a hitting percentage of .052, while the Hornets totaled 57 kills and had a hitting percentage of .230. Delaware State held a slim 7-6 advantage in blocks. Fakaosi led the Hornets with four blocks, while Morgan State was led by Durham, Wilson and Zuri Smith, who all notched three blocks each.
Morgan State returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 9, when they play host to four-time defending MEAC North Division champion Maryland Eastern Shore for Homecoming. First serve is slated for 4:30 p.m. at Hill Field House. The Alumni match will take place earlier in the morning at 10 a.m.
