Morgan State University Athletics

Morgan State 2, Navy 3
 
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Sept. 20, 2011)-Leading 13-11 in the fifth and deciding set against Navy, the Morgan State volleyball team looked like it was on the verge of picking up its third win of the season and more importantly ending a 12-match losing skid. But that would not be the case, as Navy scored four straight points to defeat the visiting Lady Bears 15-13 and claim a 3-2 (28-26, 18-25, 26-28, 25-17, 13-15) non-conference win on Tuesday night at the Wesley A. Brown Field House.

With the loss Morgan State (2-13) dropped its 13th consecutive match, while Navy evened the all-time series with Morgan State at 5-5.

Navy (5-10) was led by Katie Bray, who finished with a match-high 18 kills and added 12 digs and four blocks in the win. Carolyn Ewert also recorded a double-double, adding 12 kills and 10 digs. Shelby Mass totaled a match-high 52 assists and Holly Berger led the Mids with 19 digs.

Kierra Outlin led Morgan State with a team-high 15 kills and added eight digs and a match-high four service aces. Janelle Wilson added 11 kills, three aces and six digs, while Erin Cox finished with a career-high 24 digs. (Ngebui) Natalie Chafeh recorded a career-high 43 assists to go with three kills and four digs.

In the first set, Morgan State held a 20-13 lead and had to hold on for a 28-26 win. The Lady Bears used a 6-0 run to take a 12-7 lead and a 4-0 spurt to extend their advantage to 20-13. But Navy countered with a 4-0 run to pull within 20-17, followed by another 4-0 run to take a 24-23 lead. The two teams traded leads before Morgan State finished the set with three straight points for the win. It was the Lady Bears first set victory in the last 12 matches played, ending a streak of being swept in 11 straight matches.

Navy broke a 6-6 tie in Set 2 with six straight points and held a 20-11 advantage, en route to a 25-18 win. The Mids then took a 2-1 set lead, with a come-from-behind 28-26 victory in the third set. Navy trailed 18-14, then went on a 7-1 run to take a 21-19 lead. Morgan went ahead 24-23, but Navy pushed to a 26-25 advantage. After an attack error on Navy evened the score at 26 all, the Mids scored the next two points for the win.

The Lady Bears came out in the fourth set playing their best volleyball of the night and took control by jumping out to a 10-0 cushion. Navy would get as close as 17-12, but the guests used an 8-5 run to close out the set and set up the decisive fifth set.

In Set 5, the Lady Bears held a 10-6 lead, following back-to-back kills by Zurie Smith. Navy struck back with four straight points to even the score at 11. The Lady Bears countered with a kill and service ace from Outlin to put them up 13-11, their last points of the match.

Morgan State held a slim 13-12 advantage in blocks with Wilson leading the way with a career- and match-high eight blocks and Chafeh finished with five. Maida Kalic' led Navy with seven blocks.

The Lady Bears return to action on Sunday, Sept. 25, when they open up Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play at crosstown rival Coppin State. First serve is slated for 3 p.m. at the Physical Education Complex on the campus of Coppin State.