BALTIMORE, Md. (Sept. 1, 2019)-Playing for the first time in seven years, the Lady Bears took on crosstown rival Towson on Saturday evening in the final match of the Morgan/Towson Invitational at Hill Field House. Morgan State would fall short to the visiting Tigers in the title match, 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-11) to finish as tournament runner-ups.
 
The loss was the first of the season for Morgan State (2-1), preventing the Lady Bears from starting 3-0 for the first time since 1997. Towson, which improved to 3-0 with the win, did not drop a set all weekend en route to claiming the championship.
 
"I've known coach for many years, probably a good twenty years we've known each other," said Coach Riley-Bozier, of Towson head coach Don Metil, who is in his seventh season at the helm. "He's done a good job at Towson. It's just a little crosstown rivalry, quiet as kept. I think this was a good match for us to play, just to get us warmed up for what's in front of us, because we really don't have an easy schedule."
 
Added Riley-Bozier, "they [Towson] ran a very fast tempo offense and we're still learning. We have some middles that are very new and very young, so this was a very good test for them."
 
The Tigers hit .337 as a team, finishing with 43 kills and just 10 attack errors on 98 attempts. Lydia Wiers led Towson with 12 kills, while hitting for a .625 attack percentage. Silvia Grassini had a .667 hitting percentage finishing with nine kills and a team-high four blocks, while Olivia Finckel also finished with nine kills. Marrisa Wonders recorded 36 assists and Camryn Allen tallied a match-best 11 digs.
 
Towson had three athletes earn all-tournament team honors in Emily Jarome, Annie Ertz and Wiers. Ertz was named Best Defensive Player, while Wiers garnered Most Valuable Player honors.
 
Morgan State was led by Zoe McBride, who totaled 12 kills and had eight digs. Roi Wallace finished with 21 assists and Jennevy Santos had a team-high nine digs.
 
"It feels great. It was a better start than last year," said McBride of the opening weekend success. "Opening up at home and coming off of two big wins, it feels really good. I wished we would've won this last one, but we fought hard and we have another game on Tuesday and we'll get back at it then."
 
McBride had a stellar performance during the Invitational, finishing with a team-best 60 kills, while adding 31 digs and four blocks, which are second most on the team. McBride along with Santos would be named to the all-tournament team.
 
Santos tallied a team-high 49 digs and had 10 assists over the weekend playing in the libero position.
 
"It was a good tournament. We came together as a team, we clicked and we went through it good and bad," said Santos, who transferred to Morgan State after two years at Palm Beach State College. "We have a great outlook. We all have really worked hard in practice and we get after it every day. Early in the morning we get after it at weights and we work hard. We came together as a team and I think this will be a good season for us."
 
The Lady Bears return to the court on Tuesday, Sept. 3, when they welcome Siena to Hill Field House for a non-conference match at 1 p.m. The Saints (0-1) are coming off a 3-2 loss at Coppin State on Sunday.