The AU women’s volleyball team had no trouble disposing of the Morgan State Bears on Tuesday, winning 3-0.
AU won in three sets, with a score of 25-23, 25-17 and 25-19. With the win, the team now holds a perfect 18-0 record against Morgan State. The Eagles have won five of their last six matches, finishing up non-conference play with a 6-7 record. Their overall record stands at 7-8, with Patriot League action set to resume next week.
“Overall, I think we played very steady and consistent tonight,” junior Cassandra Ricketts said after the game.
Morgan State did not go down easily in the first set, which included seven ties and two lead changes. The score was deadlocked at 21, before AU scored two consecutive points to take a 23-21 lead. Senior Claire Recht registered a kill four points later, clinching the set for the Eagles.
The second set was much of the same as AU dominated, racing off to a 6-0 lead. Unlike the first set, there was never any doubt in AU’s ability to win, as they led the Bears 13-4 and 22-12. Rebecca Heath’s only block of the night captured the set for the Eagles as they took a 2-0 lead heading into the third frame.
AU controlled the third set from start to finish and did not let the Bears back into the match. They never trailed or tied Morgan State in the set. Magdalena Tekiel set the tone early in the set with a kill and block, while Morgan State was never able to mount a serious comeback attempt late.
Juniors Angelina Waterman and Tekiel registered nine kills apiece, while Ricketts chipped in with eight. Freshman setter Krysta Cicala paced the offense with 40 assists. The total team attack was strong with a hitting percentage of .344.
“This was our best hitting performance of the season,” head coach Barry Goldberg said.
On defense, Waterman posted eight digs, while Cynammon Burns and Ricketts each had seven. Ricketts also led the team with five block assists.
AU has won 11 of the last 12 Patriot League Championships, but the team has started off 2009 1-1 in the league.
“We have had a lot of out of league match-ups to prepare us for Patriot League play,” Waterman said after the game. “I definitely think we are ready.”
The Eagles will next play a pair of home games, facing off against Bucknell on Oct. 2nd before playing Colgate on Oct. 3rd.
You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
