Match 30 (MEAC Quarterfinal)
Friday, Nov. 17, 2023
#7 Morgan State (8-21, 3-11 MEAC) vs. #2 Howard (15-13, 11-3 MEAC)
Dover, Del. | Memorial Hall | 5:30 p.m.

MSU MEAC Championship History Guide

BALTIMORE, Md. (Nov. 13, 2023)--Morgan State, in search of claiming the program's fourth Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championship, begins its run on Friday, Nov. 17, when the seventh-seeded Bears take on No. 2 Howard in the quarterfinal round. First serve is at 5 p.m. at Memorial Hall on the campus of Delaware State University.
 
This will be the second consecutive quarterfinal matchup between the two teams. Howard would defeat Morgan State, 3-0 last season. The two teams will be meeting for the 15th time in the MEAC Volleyball Championship Tournament with the Bison holding an 11-3 lead over Morgan State.
 
BEAR CLAWS: Morgan State (8-21, 3-8 MEAC) is coming off a 3-0 road loss to rival Coppin State (11/10) in the season finale. It was the second loss to Coppin State in a three-day span to end the regular season. Mya Karrick led the Bears with eight kills, while adding six digs, five assists and a block against Coppin. Alyssa Sampson had 10 digs and Trinity Carruthers finished with 10 assists, five digs and two blocks.
 
BISON HOOVES: Howard (15-13, 11-3 MEAC) enters the contest riding a three-match winning streak. The Bison concluded the regular season with a 3-1 victory at Norfolk State (11/10). Rya McKinnon led the way with a match-high 15 kills and 18 digs to record a double-double. Jennifer Bolden had 13 kills and Claire Simps11n recorded a match-best 19 digs. Kayla Diaz finished with a match-high 29 assists and Leah Reeves added 17.
 
SERIES NOTES: Howard has won seven straight over Morgan State and leads the all-time series, 44-41. The Bison won the first meeting this season, 3-1 in Baltimore (10/18) and completed the season sweep with a 3-0 victory in Washington, D.C. (11/3). The Bison also lead the all-time MEAC Championship series, 11-3 after last season's quarterfinal victory over Morgan.
 
NEXT UP: The winner of Friday's Morgan State-Howard quarterfinal match will advance to the semifinal round on Saturday to take on the winner of No. 3 Delaware State and No. 6 Norfolk State.
 
MOVING ON UP: Jada Williams has a team-leading 93 blocks, which ranks 19th on the career charts and moved her past O'Tasha Williams (90 blocks in 2006) and into a tie for seventh on the single season charts with Kalysia Bates (93 blocks in 2018). Makila Billingsley recorded 1,673 attack attempts for her career, which ranks 17th all-time at Morgan State. Gabriela Hiciano is tied for 23rd with 1,035 attempts. Billingsley also has 123 career blocks, which is 17th. Justyus Jackson ranks 14th in blocks with 163 for her career, moving her past Ngebui (Natalie) Chafeh (162 blocks from 2010-13). Jackson is now two blocks away from passing O'Tasha Williams (164 blocks from 2005-06) for 13th all-time. Alyssa Sampson has recorded 773 digs, which moved her past Ivanti Bush (768 digs from 2006-09) for 15th.
 
SAYING GOODBYE: Morgan State said goodbye to six seniors, Makila Billingsley, Londyn Coles, Gabriela Hiciano, Justyus Jackson, Jourdan Page and Alyssa Sampson prior to its home finale 'Senior Day' match victory over Norfolk State (11/5). They will officially play in their final career home contest at Hill Field House on Wednesday, Nov. 8 when they take on Coppin State.
  
TWICE AS NICE: Morgan State and rival Coppin State ended up concluding the MEAC regular season facing each other in back-to-back matches. The first meeting between the two teams was originally scheduled for Friday, Oct. 13 at Hill Field House. However, that match was postponed due to illness within the Coppin program. That match took place on Wednesday, Nov. 8 for the Bears' Senior Night and home finale. Two days later the two teams met in the regular season finale on Nov. 10 at the Physical Education Complex on the Coppin State campus for the Eagles' Senior Day and home finale.
 
IT WON'T BE US: Morgan State improved to 29-0 all-time against South Carolina State, following its 3-0 victory in Baltimore (10/29). The win completed a season sweep over the Bulldogs and extended S.C. State's MEAC losing skid to 69 straight. The Bears won the first meeting, 3-1 in Orangeburg, S.C. (10/1) to give the hosts their 116th consecutive overall lost.
 
MORGAN RETURNS TO THE COURT: The Morgan State volleyball team returned to the court on Sunday, Oct. 15 at Norfolk State, ending an unexpected two-week hiatus, where three of its matches during that time were postponed. It was the team's first contest since defeating South Carolina State (10/1) on the road.
 
WILLIAMS NAMED MEAC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Freshman middle blocker Jada Williams was named MEAC Rookie of the Week (10/2). The 6-foot-2 native of Fredericksburg, Va., averaged 2.11 kills and 1.00 blocks per set to help Morgan State to a 1-1 finish on the road for the week. Williams led the team with nine blocks, including two solo, and a .444 hitting percentage with 19 kills. She began the week with seven kills, four digs and tallied six blocks in a tough five-set loss at North Carolina Central (9/29). Williams then hit a match-high .579 with a season-best 12 kills, and added three blocks, including two solo in a win over South Carolina State (10/1).
  
GOING THE DISTANCE: Morgan State fell to 1-4 this season in five set matches, following its 3-2 home loss to Maryland Eastern Shore (10/20). All three of Morgan's previous five-set losses came on the road, including at North Carlina Central (9/29), at Maryland Eastern Shore (9/22) and at Columbia (9/9). The Bears' lone win was at home against FDU (Fairleigh Dickinson) during the Morgan/Towson Invitational (9/2).
 
BILLINGSLEY REACHES 100 BLOCKS: Senior Makila Billingsley recorded a match-high six blocks at North Carolina Central (9/29) to put her over the 100-mark for career blocks at Morgan State, giving her 103 blocks during her three-years at Morgan. She currently has 123 blocks.
 
STILL UNBEATEN: Morgan State entered the season looking to add to its perfect record and remain unbeaten against non-conference foe Bowie State and fellow MEAC member South Carolina State and the Bears did just that. Morgan, who hadn't played against Division II Bowie State since the 1991 campaign, improved to 3-0 against the Bulldogs, following its 3-0 win to close out its non-conference slate (9/19). The Bears also increased its all-time record against the Lady Bulldogs of South Carolina State to 29-0 with this season's series sweep. Morgan State defeated S.C. State 3-1 in Orangeburg, S.C. (10/1), before sweeping the Lady Bulldogs in Baltimore, Md. (10/29).
 
MSU HOLDS EDUCATION DAY: Nearly 200 students from two area schools attended Morgan State's inaugural Education Day on Tuesday, Sept. 19. The goal was to initiate the positive environment that education brings to the youth's lives and expose them to HBCUs and local campuses in Maryland that are near them. The students took part in a campus tour and were taught the Bear chant and dance. Prior to the match, four students were recognized as outstanding students and served as honorary captains (two for Morgan State and two for Bowie State) and were introduced in the starting lineups.
 
GIMME FIVE: Morgan State concluded the non-conference schedule with a 3-0 sweep of visiting Bowie State (9/19). The win gave the Bears five non-conference victories on the season, the program's most since the 2019 team won six non-conference matches. The 2019 squad would go on to reach the MEAC title match.
 
THE IVY EXPERIENCE: Morgan concluded its season matchups against the Ivy League with a 3-0 loss at Cornell (9/15) in the opener of the Cornell/Syracuse Invitational. The Bears finished with a 1-2 mark against Ivy League opponents, defeating Dartmouth, 3-1 in the Morgan/Towson Invitational (9/1), before losing on the road at Columbia (9/9) in five sets. 
 
BEARS LOOSE IN TIME SQUARE: The MSU volleyball team took some time out on Thursday, Sept. 7 to enjoy the sights, sounds and food of New York. The team's tour began with a ferry ride from Staten Island to Manhattan. From there the team walked to the World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The Bears then ventured to Times Square AKA the "Bow Tie" of Midtown, referring to 41st to 47th Street, along Broadway and Seventh Avenue. Those blocks form what looks like a giant bow tie. Morgan State then finished its evening with a team dinner at Carmine's Italian restaurant.
 
TAKE TWO: The Bears earned back-to-back wins over Dartmouth and FDU during the co-hosted Morgan/Towson Invitational. It was the first two-match winning streak for Morgan State since the Spring 2021 season when the Bears earned 3-0 sweeps at home over George Washington (Jan. 29) and Howard (Feb. 12).
 
THAT'S A FIRST: Morgan State picked up its first win of the season, following a 3-2 victory over Dartmouth (9/1) during the Morgan/Towson Invitational. It was also the first meeting between the two programs. The victory was also the Bears first over an Ivy League opponent in 10 tries.
 
CARPENTER NAMED TO HOKIE INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Senior setter Erin Carpenter was named to the Hokie Invitational All-Tournament Team after totaling 30 assists, 20 digs, three kills, three service aces and two blocks in nine sets played. The Atlanta, Ga. native had a weekend-best 17 assists and added seven digs and two assisted blocks to go with a kill against Furman (8/25). In the finale against Quinnipiac, Carpenter totaled a season-high 11 digs, had a season-best two service aces and added two assists.
 
OPENING SERVE: Morgan State fell to 9-22 in season openers since the 1993 season, after falling on the road to Virginia Tech (8/25) in three sets. The Bears' last opening day victory was a 3-2 win at home against Seton Hall in the opener of the Morgan/Towson Invitational (8/30/19).
 
BLOCK PARTY: Morgan State finished the opening weekend holding a 17.0-9.0 advantage in blocks over its opponents in three matches played. Jada Williams led the way with 10 total blocks, including a match-high five in the finale against Quinnipiac. Morgan State held a 6.0-2.0 blocking advantage in its second match against Furman. In the finale against Quinnipiac, the Bears out blocked the Bobcats 7.0-3.0. It marked the second straight opponent that Morgan State out blocked after tying Virginia Tech with 4.0 blocks each in the opener.
 
MORGAN PICKED SEVENTH IN MEAC: Morgan State was picked to finish seventh this season in the eight-team Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason poll, as voted by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. Last season the Bears were also picked to finish seventh.
 
BILLINGSLEY, JACKSON NAMED AS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL: Seniors Makila Billingsley and Justyus Jackson have been named as this season's leadership council. A native of Plainfield, N.J., Billingsley recorded a team-leading 2.35 kills and averaged 0.35 digs and 0.38 blocks per set a year ago. She ranked ninth in the MEAC in kills and was named to the MEAC Volleyball All-Academic Team. Jackson ranked 10^th in the MEAC in hitting percentage and blocks last season. The Davenport, Iowa native averaged 1.43 kills and 0.30 digs per set and was named the team's MVP. She ranks 17 all-time at Morgan in blocks with 103 for her career. Jackson was a first-team Morgan State All-Academic selection, was named to the MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team and was earned MEAC Volleyball All-Academic Team honors.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME: Morgan State ended two 30-year plus hiatuses against two Maryland schools this season. The Bears faced Notre Dame of Maryland on Sept. 13 at Hill Field House. It was the first meeting between the two teams since prior to the 1990 season (records are unavailable). It was also the eighth meeting between the two programs. Morgan State also hosted in-state foe Bowie State on Sept. 19, ending a 32-year hiatus between the two Maryland HBCUs. It was the third all-time meeting, with both previous contests coming during the 1991 season.
 
SOMEONE NEW: Morgan State squared off against three first-time opponents this season. The Bears hosted Dartmouth (9/1) in the Morgan/Towson Invitational and will met host Columbia (9/9), followed by Manhattan (9/9) in the Columbia Tournament.
 
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Morgan State faced four opponents this season (Delaware State, FDU, Towson and Quinnipiac), who reached the 2022 NCAA Volleyball Tournament. Morgan took on Quinnipiac in the finale of the Hokie Invitational on Aug. 26. The Bears also faced both crosstown rival Towson on Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. and FDU on Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. in the Morgan/Towson Invitational. The Bears and MEAC foe Delaware State met twice this season on each other's home floor. The two first met on Sept. 24 in Baltimore and again on Oct. 22 in Dover, Del.
 
TOURNAMENT EXPOSURE: The Bears will again take part in four regular season tournaments this year. Following the season opening Hokie Invitational (Aug. 25-26), Morgan State will return home to co-host the Morgan/Towson Invitational (Aug. 31-Sept. 3) against Towson, Dartmouth, FDU, Rider and Temple. Next will be a trip to New York for the Columbia Tournament (Sept. 8-9) against Rutgers, host Columbia and Manhattan. Morgan will conclude its tournament action with another trip to New York when it visits both Ithaca and Syracuse for the Cornell Invitational/Syracuse Tournament (Sept. 15-16). The Bears will take on Cornell in the opener and will close out against Syracuse.                                                               

11 NAMED TO MEAC ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM: Morgan State had 11 players named to the MEAC Volleyball All-Academic Team during the 2021-22 school year. Seven of the 11 recognized Makila Billingsley, Trinity Carruthers, Londyn Coles, Gabriela Hiciano, Justyus Jackson, Jourdan Page and Alyssa Sampson return for the 2023 season.
 
WELCOME TO THE CAVE: Morgan State welcomes the addition of eight newcomers to the 2023 squad, three transfers: Erin Carpenter (Brookhaven, Ga.); Ainara Fernandes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) and Ellis Spencer (Lone Tree, Colo.) and five freshmen, Biko Hollie (Los Angeles, Calif.); Mya Karrick (Shorewood, Minn.); Tiffany Moore (Germantown, Md.); Tyrah Weems (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Jada Williams (Fredericksburg, Va.).

2023 MEAC CHAMPIONSHIP: This year's MEAC Volleyball Championship will take place November 17-19 in Dover, Del. at Memorial Hall on the campus of Delaware State University.


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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.