BALTIMORE, Md. (Oct. 15, 2014)-The Morgan State volleyball team will look to spoil homecoming for Beltway rival Howard, when they travel to Washington, D.C. this Thursday evening to battle the Lady Bison in a MEAC North Division contest. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Burr Gymnasium. The contest will also be Howard's Dig Pink match to raise awareness for breast cancer.
Thursday's match was originally scheduled to be a Friday evening home contest for the Lady Bears. However, with Morgan State also celebrating homecoming this week, there was a conflict in securing Hill Field House, due to other events going on. Thus the match was moved to Howard and changed to Thursday due to availability at Burr Gymnasium.
The match will be a crucial one for both teams, as it will be for sole possession of second-place in the MEAC North Division standings. The Lady Bears enter the contest with an 11-7 overall record and 4-1 in the MEAC, while Howard carries an 11-9 mark, 4-1 in the MEAC.
"This is an important match because the winner between us and Howard will determine the second seed," said Morgan State head coach
Ramona Riley-Bozier. "We are going to approach this match like we have for all the others. Play one point at a time and follow the process."
Morgan State, which is on a season-long three match winning streak, has been led by
Arianna Hayden, who is averaging 2.85 kills per set and also leads the Lady Bears in blocks with 41 to go with her 1.88 digs per set.
Evely Macedo is contributing 2.33 kills, while
Dinah Jones is adding 2.25 kills per set and ranks second in total blocks with 40.
Carmen Fernandez has tallied 626 assists for the Lady Bears, while
Haley McClure leads the squad in service aces with 31.
The Lady Bison have been paced by Khaila Donaldson, who is averaging 3.52 kills per set, has a team-high 23 service aces and ranks second in digs (2.77) and third in blocks (47). Assata Conway leads Howard with 77 total blocks and has 2.40 kills per set. Stephanie Shultis has notched 705 assists on the season and ranks second on the team in blocks with 52. Allyson Lods is averaging a team-high 3.19 digs per set.
Last season the Lady Bison won two of the three matches played, including a win over Morgan State during the ninth annual Friar Classic in Providence. The squads then split the MEAC slate, each winning on the other's home floor, including the season finale, a 3-1 win by Howard. That victory would prevent Morgan State from reaching the MEAC postseason tournament.
"Words cannot describe how big the Howard match is on Thursday," said senior
Zuri Smith. "I'm really not interested in spoiling anyone's homecoming, I just want my team to come out victorious everyday possible. "This match will have very high emotions. I'm very excited to solidify my team in second-place in the MEAC."
