After a winless non-conference performance in the first month of the season, the Morgan State University Lady Bears opened MEAC play earning their first season win against the Hampton University Lady Friday evening, 3-1.

“It speaks volumes to our conference,” said senior Haley McClure. “Everyone is watching us and wants to see how the team is doing.”

The visiting Lady Pirates handedly won the first game with a score of 25-13. With such a disheartening loss in the first game, head coach Ramona Riley-Bozier reminded her team to “follow the process and trust the process.”

Down 0-1, the Lady Bears responded quickly. They were leading 7-5 when Hampton called their first time out, but then lost control of their lead after a wide variety of errors. The Lady Pirates’ 14-13 lead seemed like a catalyst for another game victory until the Lady Bears roared back and won the 2nd set with a score of 25-23.

Both teams went back and forth in the third game, which was tightest of the match. Bringing the game to a tie at 24, the Lady Bears relinquished two chances to close out the game before winning 27-25.

An illegal player penalty on Hampton early in the fourth game provided Morgan an early 3-0 lead, from which they never looked back. They led with scores of 10-4, 14-6, 24-19 at each time-out break before eventually winning the game and match.

“[This win] lets the competition know that Morgan State is serious about the conference and that we are ready,” said junior Victoria Turnbough.

The Lady Bears (1-14, 1-0 MEAC) will next play on Sunday at 3 p.m. against Norfolk State University in Hill Field House.