BALTIMORE, Md. (August 31, 2023)-Crosstown rivals and co-hosts Morgan State and Towson kicked off the 2023 Morgan/Towson Invitational with a thrilling battle on Thursday evening at Hill Field House.
 
Irbe Lazda hit .500 and tallied a match-high 14 kills, while Nina Cajic added 13 kills and hit .333 to help visiting Towson squeak by Morgan State, 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 29-27) in the opening match of the tournament.
 
Towson (2-1) finished the contest hitting .243, recording 44 kills on 111 attempts with 17 errors. Sarah Jordan had a match-high 26 assists and Sydney Stewart totaled 13 digs and four service aces, both match highs.
 
Morgan State (0-4) was led by Makila Billingsley and Ainara Fernandes, who both had nine kills. Mya Karrick tallied 12 assists, dour digs and a team-high three service aces, while Erin Carpenter collected her first double-double of the season with 10 assists and 10 digs. Alyssa Sampson had a match-high 15 digs.
 
The Bears would get out blocked by Towson, 9.0-8.0. It marked the first time this season an opponent has out blocked the Bears. Ylenia De Mango, Lazda and Cajic led the Tigers, each recording two solo blocks.
 
Morgan Stat was led by Jada Williams, who finished with a match-best six combined blocks, including a match-high four solo blocks.
 
Day 2 of the Morgan/Towson Invitational gets underway on Friday, Sept. 1 with Dartmouth taking on Temple at 1 p.m., followed by the Bears facing Dartmouth at 6 p.m. Both contests will take place at Hill Field House.
 
 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, 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.