BALTIMORE – The Coppin State volleyball team earned an important 3-2 victory over crosstown rival Morgan State in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Northern Division thriller Sunday afternoon in the Auxiliary Gym.
The Eagles displayed plenty of fight and heart to even their overall record at 10-10 and Northern Division mark at 4-3, which moved them into a third-place tie with Morgan State (11-8, 4-3). Coppin State also avenged its earlier setback to the Lady Bears by rallying from a 2-1 deficit to control the last two games and earn the much-needed triumph.
Coppin State won the first game, 25-19, before Morgan State won the next two games by 25-21 and 25-22 scores. The Eagles won the fourth game, 25-11 and the fifth by a 15-12 margin.
"We needed this win really bad," Coppin State junior
Cindy Okpegbue said. "We played as a team today and for our coach. It's very exciting to beat Morgan and its always a great atmosphere. Winning this match makes everybody happy."
Okpegbue fueled the Eagles' fire. She finished with a match-high 18 kills for the second consecutive time. She was one of four Coppin State players to finish with double-digit kills.
Ariel Richard complemented Okpegbue with 13 kills.
Maya Horner added 11 kills and
Kendra Ireigbe collected 10 digs and three blocks.
Defensively, the tandem of
Gabrielle Otero (19 digs) and
Bailee Jackson (10) helped the Eagles, which received 53 assists from
Chelsee Sauni (seven digs).
Jasmine Burton and
Nicole Malave-Adams also combined for 13 digs for Coppin State.
The fifth set was entertaining and tense as there were five ties. Coppin State trailed, 5-4, before taking control with four consecutive points to open some breathing room. Okpegbue took control in the decisive game by finishing with five of Coppin State's nine kills. She simply refused to allow Coppin State to lose.
"I am really proud of the way they played the first, fourth and fifth sets," Coppin State coach Asley Preston said. "What I am really most proud of is the third set and how we were down such a big deficit and we came back to almost win that set so that's a bright spot. To not allow a team to just totally beat us. I was proud of their fight in that set."
The seeds for the rally were planted during the third set after Coppin State fell behind, 12-4. Instead of rolling over, the Eagles battled and sliced Morgan State's advantage to 22-20 before falling short. Coppin State rode that finish to control a fourth set that took 16 minutes to play. Coppin State scored the first seven points and stretched its bulge to a two-touchdown advantage, 21-7 at one point.
"I think there was shift in the minds of our players during that set that we were completely capable of beating Morgan State," Preston said. "I am not sure when that shift happened, but I am just glad it happened at that right time. The ladies were able to rise to occasion today to know when it was their opportunity to score and win big points."
Morgan State's Samanatha Prescott led four Lady Bears with 15 kills. Arianna Hayden and Everly Macedo added 13 kills each for Morgan State. Carmen Fernandez finished with 48 assists. Macedo (11 digs) and Prescott (10 digs) finished with double-doubles for the Lady Bears. Tamara Leslie had a team-high 15 digs.
Coppin State hits the road this weekend for its annual trip to Virginia to meet Hampton Friday night and Norfolk State next Sunday afternoon.
