Morgan State University Athletics

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (August 29, 2026)--Jada Williams totaled a 11 kills, two assists and four blocks, all match highs, but it wasn't enough as Morgan State dropped a 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-10) non-conference decision to Gardner-Webb on Saturday morning in the Lehigh Steel Classic at Grace Hall.
 
Michaela Panekova added seven kills and three blocks and Zayda Thomas contributed five kills and two blocks. Isabelle Brown totaled 22 assists and Bailey Swinton finished with 11 digs to lead the Bears.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-1) finished the match with 42 kills and an attack percentage of .410, to earn their first win of the season and first in program history over Morgan State in four meetings.
 
The Bears (0-2) scored six straight to take an early 6-1 lead in the opening set. GW regrouped and scored the next five points to even the score at 6-6. From that point on the remainder of the set was tightly contested, as neither team led by more than three points. Morgan State trailed 21-20, when GW scored two straight during a mini 3-1 run to extend its lead to 24-21. The Bears, who tallied had a set-best 12 kills, got back-to-back kills from Williams to pull within a point at 24-23, but a block by Sarina Galyean would give the Bulldogs the 25-23 victory.
 
Morgan State was starting to roll in Set 2 and appeared to be in control, when an ace from Wiliams capped off a 4-0 run and gave the Bears a 16-10 advantage. However, GW, which recorded a set-high 15 kills, had other plans. GW would go on a 7-0 run to reclaim the lead at 18-17. The Bears trailed 21-19, before tying the score on a Willims kill, followed by a combined block from Brown and Williams. The Bulldogs then scored four consecutive points to steal a 25-21 come-from-behind victory to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Gardner-Webb wasted no time taking control of the third set, scoring the first five points, then using a 9-1 run to take a 20-7 advantage. A kill by Thomas ended the run, but the Bulldogs would close out the contest with a 5-2 run for the 25-10 victory. GW would record a set-high .565 hitting percentage with 14 kills and just one error in the final set.
 
The Bulldogs were led by Galyean, who recorded nine kills and had a match-high four blocks and Peyton Slone added eight. Olivia Lefebvre tallied a match-high 12 assists and Ivey Lucas had 11. Kiera Vazquez recorded a match-best 12 digs.
 
Morgan State will close out the tournament later this afternoon when it takes on host Lehigh at 4 p.m., live on ESPN+.
 
 
ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master's degree, doctorate and certificate programs. 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.