FAIRFAX, Va. (Sept. 20, 2024)--Morgan State faced Gardner-Webb on Day 2 of the Patriot Invite on Friday afternoon and overcame a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Runnin' Bulldogs, 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 13-25, 25-19, 15-11) at the Recreational and Athletic Complex on the George Mason University campus.
 
It would be the third meeting between the two programs with the previous two contests also going in favor of the Bears, including a 3-2 win in their last meeting in the Spartan Spiketacular in Greensboro, N.C. (9/18/10).
 
Mya Karrick finished with a match-high 32 assists and added nine digs, falling short of a double-double, while Daniela Ferreira finished with 17 kills and Aubrey Wilson totaled 10 kills in the win. Hannah Chappelle recorded a team-high 15 digs and Addison Metts fell shy of a double-double with 12 digs and nine kills.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs broke a 6-6 tie with three straight points coupled by two Morgan State errors to take a 9-6 lead. Morgan countered with a 5-1 run to take an 11-10 advantage. Gardner-Webb scored four consecutive points in the midst of its own 5-1 run to push its lead to 15-12. The Bears got within 15-14 on an assisted block from Ainara Fernandes and Jada Williams, but the Runnin' Bulldogs put together a 7-3 spurt to take a 22-17 lead. Morgan would pull within three points three times, but Garnder-Webb eventually sealed the deal with the 25-21 win.
 
In Set 2 the team traded points, as neither led by more than two points through the first 26 combined points, as the score was tied 13-13. Gardner-Webb changed that, as it went on a 5-0 run to take an 18-13 lead. Morgan State fought back to even the score at 18-18 and took a 21-19 lead on a kill by Madison Grace, which forced Gardner-Webb to call a timeout. The Bears held a 24-21 cushion on back-to-back kills from Wilson and one from Ferreira, but Cayton White got back-to-back kills to bring the Runnin' Bulldogs within a point at 24-23. Following a Morgan timeout, Wilson would end the set with a kill to give the Bears the 25-23 victory and even the match at one set apiece.
 
The third set was all Gardner-Webb, as the Runnin' Bulldogs scored the first four points and held an 11-6 lead. Gardner-Webb would use a 7-1 run to take a 21-11 lead and closed out the set on a 4-1 run to claim the 25-13 victory. Gardner-Webb totaled 11 kills and hit a set-best .269, while holding Morgan State to eight kills and a set-low .033 hitting percentage.
 
Morgan State returned the favor in Set 4, as the Bears jumped on Gardner-Webb, 8-1. The Bears held a 9-2 advantage when Gardner-Webb used a 5-1 run to pull within 10-7. Morgan used a 4-0 run to increase its lead to 18-10 on a kill from Wilson. The Runnin' Bulldogs scored three straight points to conclude a 6-2 run to get within four points at 20-16. Morgan State closed the door with a kill from Metts to give the Bears the 25-19 win and force a fifth and decisive set.
 
Morgan State held an 8-5 lead in Set 5 when the teams switched sides. Gardner-Webb got within a point at 9-8, but that was as close as it would get. Morgan State used a 4-1 run to take a 13-9 lead and held off the Runnin' Bulldogs for the 15-11 victory.
 
Gardner-Webb (2-11) was led by White, who finished with a match-high 19 kills. Molly Littlefield had a match-high 19 digs and Kayla Hawkins added 14 digs. Sloan Rooney fell short of a double-double with 24 assists and nine digs.
 
Morgan State continued its dominance in blocking, as it out blocked the Runnin' Bulldogs, 13.0-6.0. Wilson led the way with seven blocks, including two solo. Williams finished with six blocks, including two solo and Ferreira finished with four. It marked the 11^th time out of 13 matches, that Morgan State has out blocked its opponent this season.
 
The Bears will conclude the tournament and their non-conference slate on Saturday, Sept. 21 when they face FDU. First serve is at 1 p.m. at the Recreational and Athletic Complex.
 
 
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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.
 
 
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