Morgan State University Athletics

NORFOLK, Va. (Sept. 25, 2026)--The Morgan State volleyball team began the 2026 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) season on the road Friday evening to take on Norfolk State in a contest live on the MEAC Network.
 
The Bears, who had dropped their last seven matches to the Spartans on their home floor, would put to rest that losing skid, as they dealt Norfolk State a 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23) loss at Gill Gymnasium in the MEAC opener for both teams.
 
"It was a great team effort, and I'm incredibly proud of the way we competed," said Morgan State head coach Xiomara Ortiz. "We stayed composed in a challenging Norfolk home court environment, trusted one another, and refused to let the crowd or uncontrollable situations take us out of our game. Our non-conference losses do not define this team – our response does."
 
"Opening conference play with a win gives us confidence and momentum, but we know we have another level to still reach. We'll get back home, continue pushing each other, and prepare with purpose for Howard."
 
Virginia natives Jada Williams and Tyrah Weems would help lead the Bears to victory, ending a season-long eight-match losing skid, as well as securing the program's first win over the Spartans in Norfolk, since the 2018 season.
 
Williams recorded her second consecutive double-double and third of her career, after finishing with a match-high 15 kills and adding 10 digs. Weems added 10 kills and a career-high six digs in the win.  
 
"This team is so special. We have faced a lot of adversity thus far, and we have talked a lot about how we were going to attack conference play," said Williams. "We were going to come in with our heads high and fight to the last point no matter what, and that's exactly what we did."
 
"Norfolk's gym is a very tough environment with its fans. We knew that coming in and we stuck together. Overall, we are just beyond excited to start conference 1-0."
 
Weems was equally proud with Morgan State's victory and the performance of her teammates.
 
"Our performance and cohesiveness as a team was great tonight. It truly took everyone, on and off the court, to secure our win," said Weems, who like Williams, got to experience her first win ever at Norfolk State during her career. "Everyone showed up with a hunger tonight, myself and Jada, returners and, newcomers alike, all had a common understanding to follow through on our goals and keys to be successful during the match."
 
The Bears (2-11, 1-0 MEAC) finished the match totaling 47 kills, 45 assists and 62 digs. Isabelle Brown also had a double-double, totaling 37 assists and 11 digs. Michaela Panekova led the Bears with 13 digs and had eight kills, while Tre'Niya Miller hit for a team-high .545 with eight kills.
 
Morgan State also recorded 12 service aces with Brown leading the way with a match-high five aces and Kira DeVrieze adding four to go with her seven digs.
 
Norfolk State (3-10, 0-1 MEAC) was paced by Gabrielle Gilbert, who finished with a team-high 12 kills, eight digs and four service aces. Jazeli Vandenburgh tallied a match-high 20 digs and Jasmine Mataira collected 28 assists.
 
The Spartans held an 11-7 blocking advantage over Morgan State. Jayla Dixon finished with a match-leading five blocks, including two solo blocks. Williams (two solo) and Miller (one solo) each recorded three blocks to lead the Bears.
 
"To win in Norfolk after seven years truly feels special and empowering," said Weems. "To have experienced three of those past losses and now experience a win with the team in my senior year of being in the program, it just makes the success feel all the richer. I truly couldn't be prouder of us."
 
Morgan State will now return home for its MEAC home opener on Sunday, Sept. 27, when it hosts Beltway rival Howard for Student Appreciation Day. First serve is at 1 p.m. at Hill Field House. The contest will air live on the MEAC Network. Howard (1-11, 0-1 MEAC), which has lost five straight, is coming off a 3-0 loss at home to Coppin State on Thursday evening in Washington, D.C.
 
 
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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.