BALTIMORE, Md. (November 8, 2024)--On Friday night, the Morgan State University volleyball team faced league leader Howard University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) match at Hill Field House on Education Day.
 
Despite a hard-fought effort, the Bears were defeated by the Bison in three sets (25-16, 25-23, 30-28). With the loss, the Bears fell to 6-20 overall and 2-10 in the conference. Howard (19-5, 12-0 MEAC) extended its winning streak to a season-long 13 straight and has yet to drop a set in MEAC play, going a combined 36-0.
 
During the match, the Bears demonstrated impressive resilience and determination, putting up a strong fight against the Bison. Despite the loss, the team showcased their offensive and defensive capabilities, registering 16 kills and 16 assists in Set 2. These efforts highlight the teamwork and skill of the players, as they worked together to battle through the set.
 
At the end of the match the Bears finished with an amazing 42 digs, 36 kills and 34 assists. The Bears put up a tough fight taking the third and final set to over 25 points and showing tremendous defense on the court, before falling 30-28.
 
Junior Daniela Ferreira finished with a match-high 13 kills, a match-high nine digs and had a hitting percentage of .241. Senior Addison Metts was another standout player in the match for Morgan State, delivering a strong individual performance with 11 kills and a match-high nine digs. Her all-around contributions were critical in keeping the Bears competitive throughout the contest. As a key starter, Metts played a vital role in putting points on the board, showcasing her offensive skill and defensive tenacity. Her leadership and experience were evident as she consistently made impactful plays.
 
For the Lady Bison, Dami Awojobi played a crucial role in her team's victory, finishing with a team-high 11 kills and had six digs. Cimone Woodard and Rya McKinnon each totaled eight kills, while Leah Reeves orchestrated the offense with a match-high 40 assists. Reeves' court vision and precision in setting up her teammates were vital in keeping the Lady Bears on their heels.
 
Howard and Morgan State both tallied 7.0 blocks for the match. Howard's Amanda Ifeanyichukwu and Cimone Woodard each had a match-high three blocks. All three of Woodard's blocks were solo blocks. The Bears were led by Ainara Fernandes and Jada Williams who also totaled a match-high three blocks. Fernandes had two solo blocks and Williams had one solo block. Williams' three combined blocks gave her 200 for her career and  moved into sole position of 10^th on the school's all-time charts.
 
The Bears are back on the court on Sunday, November 10, as they head to Norfolk, Va. to face Norfolk State in a MEAC contest at 2 p.m. at Gill Gymnasium. The Spartans (12-13, 6-6 MEAC) were dealt a 3-1 loss at home to Coppin State on Friday.

BEAR CLAWS: Morgan State held its second annual Education Day volleyball contest on Friday. 50 kids from the Urban League of Rochester, N.Y. were on hand for the match. The Rochester Urban League program, which is comprised of multiple students from different schools, funds day trips for the students to go on and they set up a tour of Morgan State University. Prior to the match, Morgan State players were given co-branded bracelets that were also given out to fans in attendance. The event was supported by McDonald's Family Restaurants of Washington, D.C., greater Baltimore and the Eastern Shore.

 
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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.