2017 MSU Volleyball Video
BALTIMORE, Md. (August 19, 2017)-The Morgan State volleyball program will hold its annual 'Orange & Blue' scrimmage this Saturday, August 19. First serve is slated for 4 p.m. at Hill Field House.
The Orange & Blue contest, which marks the end of training camp for the Lady Bears, pits the current Morgan State team against the MSU Alumni squad in an actual best-of-five sets match.
"When talking with the Alumni, they are always excited to play and talk about this is what they look forward to when they can no longer wear the official volleyball uniform," said Morgan State head coach Ramona Riley-Bozier, who is entering her 30th season at the helm of her alma mater.
"It's funny how much trash talk takes place, when they both are representing Morgan State. The Alumni are trying to prove a point, 'they still got it'. However, I believe that this 2017 team will put up a serious challenge for the Alumni."
The last two Orange & Blue matches have been highly competitive between the Lady Bears and the MSU Alumni squad.
Two years ago the 2015 Lady Bears fell behind 2-1 after three sets and needed to stave off three match-point opportunities by the Alumni squad, to eventually win the fourth set and even the contest at 2-2. The Lady Bears would then hold on for a 15-13 victory in the fifth set for the win, following an attack error on the Alumni team.
Last season it was the Alumni getting revenge, this time defeating the 2016 Lady Bears, 3-2 in another five-set match thriller. The Alumni team would close out the match with a 15-7 victory in the fifth set to secure the win.
"With the Orange and Blue scrimmage, it gives the new players an opportunity to play before the 'real deal'," said Riley-Bozier. "You will see some nerves and players being unsure how they will perform, which is fine. From a coach's perspective, I am seeing how well the athletes can perform with having some anxiety and uncertainty. Who are the game changers? Who can hear the trash talk and still perform by doing?"
"I also like watching the former athletes play, because in this case I have coached every single one of them," added Riley-Bozier. "I feel proud that they want to come back to play and by no means, will they take it easy on anyone."
Morgan State opens up the regular season on Friday, Aug. 25 in Greensboro, N.C. with a 7p.m. match-up against Wake Forest in the opener of the Spartan Spiketacular hosted by the University of North Carolina Greensboro. The Lady Bears close out the tournament with two matches on Saturday, Aug. 26 against the host Spartans of UNCG at 11 a.m. and the finale against UMass Lowell at 6 p.m.
