NORFOLK, Va. (Oct. 1, 2017)-Less than 24 hours after getting swept by Hampton in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener on Friday evening, the Lady Bears spent their Saturday first focusing on themselves and making the necessary corrections they needed to make during practice and through film study. Later in the day the squad got away from volleyball and took some time out to relax and have fun during an outing at Topgolf in Virginia Beach.
 
Come Sunday afternoon, Morgan State certainly seemed refreshed, as the Lady Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead and held on for a 3-2 (25-23, 25-22, 18-25, 22-25, 15-7) victory over host Norfolk State in a MEAC contest at Gill Gymnasium.
 
After winning the first two sets, the Lady Bears were unable to close on the door right away on the Spartans. Norfolk State would claim the next two sets to even the score at 2-2. Morgan State then reclaimed the momentum in the fifth and decisive set, by scoring the first eight points to cruise to a 15-7 victory.
 
Morgan State (2-13, 1-1 MEAC) ended a season-long eight-match losing skid with the win. The Lady Bears also earned their fifth straight victory over the Spartans, while improving to 20-5 all-time against Norfolk State.
 
Senior and Virginia Beach, Va. native Keana Browne had another solid effort on the road against the Spartans, this time finishing with a team-high 18 kills and a team-high .464 hitting percentage, while adding three digs and a match-high six blocks to lead the Lady Bears. Browne has now totaled 49 kills, 15 blocks, eight digs and an ace in three road contests against Norfolk State since her sophomore season in 2015.
 
Natashia Barker nearly recorded a double-double, finishing with 10 kills and nine digs to go with five blocks and an assist, while Mykaela Ross had nine kills. Roi Wallace had a match-high 41 assists, giving her 1,182 for her career and is now 40 shy from moving into ninth all-time at Morgan State. Wallace would also add four digs, three service aces, two kills and two blocks.
Jasmin Hubbard tallied a match-high 21 digs, falling one shy of tying her career-high and Michaela Collins had a career-high 11 digs to go with six kills, a block and an ace.
 
Norfolk State (3-12, 0-2 MEAC), losers of its last four matches, was led by Tyler Clarke, who recorded a match- and career-high 19 kills, while hitting for a match-high .471 attack percentage. Jill Aquino earned a double-double with 30 assists and 10 digs, both team highs.
Ashley Patterson and Melvina Brown each had six service aces, as the Spartans recorded 14 aces for the match compared to six by the guests.
 
Morgan State held a 58-37 advantage over the Spartans in digs, as well as a 10-5 cushion in blocks. The Lady Bears recorded 47 kills and had an attack percentage of .186 for the match. Norfolk State totaled 40 kills and finished with a .074 hitting percentage.
 
The Lady Bears will finally play in the friendly confines of Hill Field House for the first time this season when they welcome defending MEAC champion Howard on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. The Lady Bison (3-13, 1-1 MEAC) are coming off a sweep at home over Delaware State on Sunday. Howard will close out its non-conference slate on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at home when it welcomes George Washington at 7 p.m., before taking on Morgan State the following day.