BALTIMORE, Md. (Sept. 14, 2016)-The Morgan State volleyball team will play its 2016 home opener Wednesday night, when it welcomes American to Hill Field House for a non-conference match. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The match will be the first between the two programs since October 3, 2012, which American won 3-1 at Hill Field House. American, which will serve as Morgan State's lone Patriot League opponent this season, enters the contest holding a 26-0 all-time series lead over Morgan State.

Tonight's contest will mark the fifth of six this season for American against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponents. The Eagles, who are currently 3-1 against the MEAC, lost during the opening week to Howard in five sets, but has since defeated Maryland Eastern Shore, Norfolk State and Coppin State all in three sets. American's final MEAC opponent will be on the road at Delaware State on Sept. 28.

The Lady Bears (0-10) are coming off three straight losses over the weekend in the Maddie Bingaman Memorial Tournament, hosted by UMBC. Morgan State would fall to the host Retrievers, Robert Morris and Winthrop all in three sets.

In the last match against Winthrop, Victoria Turnbough led the Lady Bears in kills (7), blocks (3) and was tied for the team-lead in digs with Haley McClure with seven. Roi Wallace led the team with 18 assists and two service aces. McClure would be named to the all-tournament team after totaling 19 kills, 27 digs and two blocks for the weekend.

Morgan State has been paced offensively this season by Natashia Barker, who has tallied a team-best 73 kills for 2.35 kills per set, and McClure, who has 54 kills (1.80 kps). Barker also leads the squad in total digs (3) and service aces with six, while McClure and Wallace have five each. Wallace has so far recorded a team-high 181 assists (6.24 aps) and Monette Daniels leads Morgan State with 20 blocks.

American (6-5) enters tonight on a three-match losing skid after dropping all three contests over the weekend to Michigan, Pittsburgh and Coastal Carolina at the Panther Invitational hosted by Pittsburgh. The Eagles' opening loss to No. 22 Michigan ended a season-best four-match winning streak.

Aleksandra Kazala, who would earn all-tournament team honors, led the Eagles in the finale against Coastal Carolina with a match-high 16 kills and added nine digs and a match-high two service aces in the loss. Kristen Largay had 11 digs and Kennedy Etheridge finished with a match-best 32 assists.

The Eagles have been led by Kazala, who is averaging 4.03 kills per set, while Etheridge is posting 9.10 assists per set. Defensively, Largay leads the charge with 4.05 digs per set and Loren McKenzie has a team-leading 40 blocks. 

Following Wednesday's contest, Morgan State will return to tournament action, when they take part in the VCU Invite. It will be the final regular season tournament this season for the Lady Bears. On Friday, Sept. 16, Morgan State will face Middle Tennessee at 11 a.m., and will close out Day 1 against Liberty at 3 p.m. The Lady Bears will conclude tournament play on Saturday with a 12 p.m. match against the host VCU Rams.