Morgan State University Athletics

BETHLEHEM, Pa. (August 29, 2026)--Morgan State closed out its season opening weekend with a hard-fought 3-0 (25-18-25-17, 25-18) loss to host Lehigh in the Steel Classic finale on Saturday evening at Grace Hall.
 
Despite the loss, the Bears (0-3) continued to show promise throughout the contest, recording more kills than Lehigh in two of the three sets. However, it would be the 26 attack errors that would be too much for Morgan State to overcome.
 
The Bears tallied 32 kills, but had an attack percentage of .065, following 26 attack errors. The Mountain Hawks, who recorded 35 kills, had just nine errors and finished with a .333 hitting percentage.
 
Tyrah Weems led the Bears with a match-high 11 kills and Michaela Panekova finished with nine. Isabelle Brown tallied 16 assists and added nine digs, both match highs. Jada Williams paced Morgan with three blocks, giving her 300 for her career.
 
Panekova would be named to the Steel Classic All-Tournament Team.
 
Lehigh (3-0) was paced by Alysia Fingall's eight kills, while Abby Felkai totaled 14 digs. Sophia Bond recorded a match-high four service aces and had eight digs. Olivia Lasee totaled a match-best five blocks.
 
Morgan State will head home for its home opener when it hosts Saint Peter's on Friday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. The Bears will then face Loyola Maryland in a Battle of Cold Spring Lane on Saturday at 4 p.m. and will close out the weekend against another local rival in Towson on Sunday at 2 p.m. All three matches will be played at Hill Field House.
 
 
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.