Baltimore, Md. (Sep. 29, 2019) --- Delaware State was a point away from defeat on three occasions in the fourth set, but clawed back for a 3-2 match win over Morgan State in a MEAC contest today. The Hornets snapped a string of 15 consecutive losses to the Bears to improve to 6-10 overall and 1-1 in the MEAC this season. The win was DSU's first over Morgan State since a 3-1 victory in 2011.
In today's contest, Morgan State won the first set 25-20. The Hornets evened the match with a 25-19 win in the second set.
The Bears regained control of the contest with a convincing 25-12 victory in set three.
With the Hornets a set away from dropping the match, DSU jumped out to a 12-6 lead in the fourth set. Morgan State responded with an 8-2 run to tie the set at 14-14. The score was 23-23 when the Hornets pulled to within a point of the set win after a kill by Anadys Valentin (fr.). The lead changed hands four times and there were four ties over the next 10 serves. The score was 29-29 when Delaware State took the next two points on a Morgan State error and a kill by Jordan Vang (fr.) to win the set and force a decisive fifth game.
There were 13 ties and eight lead changes in set four.
The Hornets had 17 kills and seven errors on 40 attacks in the fourth set (.250), while Morgan State recorded 15 winners and 10 errors on 39 attempts in the set (.128).
Delaware State carried the momentum in the fifth set, scoring the first three points and pulling ahead 9-4 on a shared block by Valentin and Sydney Lewis (fr.).
After Morgan State pulled to within 10-9, Vang capped off a 3-0 DSU run with a kill off a feed from Jelena Dukic (jr.) to give the Hornets a 13-9 lead.
Five plays later, the Hornets clinched the set and match on another kill by Vang and Dukic assist.
Delaware State posted 10 kills without an error on 19 attempts (.526) in the fifth set.
Vang was tops on the Hornet with a season-high 17 kills. She had just three errors on 37 attacks for a .378 hitting percentage in the match. Valentin was second on the team with 15 kills, while Dukic had a match-high 49 assists.
DSU's Jasmal Cruz (fr.) led all players with 24 digs in the match.
The Hornets had 53 kills and 24 errors on 141 attacks for a .206 hitting percentage in the match. Morgan State posted a .194 attack percentage, tallying 55 kills and 27 errors on 144 attempts.
Morgan State fell to 7-8 overall and 1-1 in the MEAC this season.
Delaware State will play at home for the first time this season in its next match this Friday against four-time defending MEAC champ Howard. The match is set for 6:00 p.m. in Memorial Hall.
