TOWSON, Md. (Sept. 3, 2022)--The Morgan State Lady Bears looked forward to this opportunity of sizing themselves up against a Big Ten squad this Saturday afternoon. The result wasn't what MSU head coach Xiomara Ortiz or her team was looking for as Rutgers held off a feisty Lady Bears team in a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-14) sweep on Day 2 of the Towson Invitational.
 
Morgan State hung tough in the first set. The set went back and forth until it was 17-15 in favor of Rutgers after Justyus Jackson landed a kill for the Lady Bears. The Scarlet Knights then outscored MSU 8-3 to end the set after Madison Grace's kill attempt was blocked by Sasha Stotler and Megan Vernon. 
 
Head Coach Xiomara Ortiz stated, "Even in the first set, I think we didn't back down. Going 25-18 with Rutgers just shows that like we can maintain some consistency. It's good that we're consistently digging well. We're having a defensive game as far as sticking in there with lots of digs and being a blocking presence and stop some of the offense." 
 
Rutgers (4-1) started to improve slowly but surely as the match went on. But it wasn't without a fight from Morgan State as they took a brief 3-1 lead off of back-to-back hitting errors from the Scarlet Knights. But Rutgers answered quickly using that fast offense of theirs as they outscored the Lady Bears 9-4 ending with a block of Jourdan Page by Lauren DeLo and Tina Grkovic to give them a 10-7 advantage.
 
After Page came back with a kill to draw MSU within 10-8, the Scarlet Knights put on the afterburners, going on a 15-7 run to slam the door shut. It was capped by a kill from Bekah Williams to win set two.
 
Coach Ortiz said about the Rutgers offense, "Their offense is faster than what we're used to seeing. It's good that we get an eye on how we have to really train and condition ourselves from a blocking standpoint if we want to be consistent and getting more blocks in a game."
 
A pair of Scarlet Knights recorded a team high in kills in Tina Grkovic and Alissa Kinkela. However, Grkovic recorded a scalding .625 hitting percentage on the afternoon.
 
Rutgers broke open an early tie in set three with a 10-4 run. It was punctuated with a kill from Grkovic to give the Scarlet Knights a 13-7 advantage. The margin stayed at six midway through the set until Rutgers ended the match with five consecutive points. The last couple on Madison Grace hitting errors to end the afternoon for Morgan State (0-6).
 
Makila Billingsley tied for the match high with 11 kills, recording a solid .350 hitting percentage. Billingsley has been stepping up to the plate for the Bears this year according to Coach Ortiz.
 
"She is becoming a terminator for us. We saw it last tournament," said Ortiz. "She is rising to the occasion again in moments where we're looking to score and not afraid to back down. She's the person to go to."
 
Morgan State plays host Towson tomorrow afternoon to conclude the three-day tournament. First serve is at 1 p.m. at SECU Arena.
 
 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.