The last three seasons have not been pleasant ones for the Morgan State volleyball program. Coupled by the graduation of seniors and multiple injuries, the Lady Bears have had three losing seasons during that span and in the last two seasons alone, Morgan State has compiled a 12-47 overall record, including 6-14 in MEAC North Division action.
Just four years ago, Morgan State seemed poised to return to MEAC dominance, as it posted the program's fourth highest win total with a 23-9 mark, including a 9-1 MEAC record and second-place finish during the regular season, while concluding the season with a runner-up finish at the 2006 league tournament.
Last season the Lady Bears went 9-22, including a 4-6 mark in the MEAC North Division and returned to the MEAC tournament after a one-year hiatus. Despite the record, it was an improvement from a 3-25, 2-8 mark in 2008, which concluded with Morgan State failing to reach the league's postseason tournament for the first time ever in school history.
Morgan State, which finished the 2009 regular season in a three-way tie for third with Howard and Hampton, secured the No. 3 seed in the tournament by way of tie-breaker scenarios. The Lady Bears however, would fall in four sets to Bethune-Cookman in the opening round, marking the team's first defeat to the Lady Wildcats in the league tournament in five meetings.
Under the leadership of head coach Ramona Riley-Bozier, who enters her 23rd season at the helm and is the school's all-time winningest coach with a career record of 367-329, Morgan State volleyball has won nine MEAC North Division titles, five MEAC tournament titles and appeared in three NCAA tournaments. With the departure of just five athletes, including two starters from a year ago and 10 letterwinners, including five starters returning in 2010, the Lady Bears are looking to return to the program's glory days.
Of the 10 returnees, Coach Bozier will have the services of three seniors in Dominique Bozier (5-9, MH) and Cheryl Savoy (5-3, DS), who both will finish their careers as four-year members and Shaundalyn Taylor (5-10, MH/OH), who joined the squad in 2009 as a junior transfer. Six juniors led by Erin Cox (5-9, OH), Rhyan Shy (5-11, OH/L), Kierra Riley 5-9, MH/RS), Delissa Carline (5-5, DS) and Dina Beamon (5-2, L) along with two sophomores in Jourdan Lemons (5-10, S) and Ashley Johnson (5-7, OH) make up the bulk of this year's Lady Bears team.
A native of Abington, Md., Bozier has led the team in blocks for the last two seasons, including a season-best 70 blocks in 2009, despite battling with back pains. She enters her final season ranked 10th on the all-time charts with 159 career blocks at Morgan State and will serve as co-captain with Savoy. Last season Bozier finished with 121 kills, 19 digs and 12 assists.
“It can be tough playing for your mother, but she has managed to do it and plays with a lot of passion,” said Coach Bozier. “Dominique enjoys competing and has confidence in her ability. It's unfortunate she has played with back pains, but she tries not to let it slow her down and she is hungry for the big prize of winning the MEAC championship.”
Savoy, who began her Morgan State career as a walk-on player, had her best season yet as a Lady Bear in 2009. The Beltsville, Md. native tallied 180 digs, 14 service aces and added a kill and a block. She will share co-captain duties with fellow senior Dominique Bozier.
“Cheryl continues to show improvement from being a walk-on as a freshman to being a starter,” said Coach Bozier. “Cheryl, who last season came off the bench to play right side in the back row, will be looked upon for that court experience again this season. Being one of three seniors, she seems to be hungry for the big prize, winning a MEAC championship. Cheryl is quiet, but has shown that she can make the small and big plays.”
Taylor, who transferred to Morgan State last year and joined the team in mid September, saw limited action in 2009 after missing the first 18 matches. The senior from Manor, Texas, totaled 13 kills, 13 blocks, two assists and a dig in 20 games played.
“Shaundalyn is one of the most powerful hitters on the team and maybe in the conference,” said Coach Bozier. “She got a late start with joining the team last year and did not see much playing time. Shaunda will compete for a starting position as a middle hitter or right side hitter.”
A product of Baltimore's Polytechnic High, Cox had a productive sophomore season in 2009. She led the Lady Bears in kills with a season-best 322, which ranked fifth among MEAC leaders (3.22) and also led the squad in service aces with 36, which ranked ninth in the MEAC. Cox also added 10 assists and 29 blocks.
“Erin showed much improvement last year and is truly an offensive threat,” said Coach Bozier. “Erin is coming off ankle surgery and is not where we would like her to be, but is definitely a lot further than what was expected. With her drive and determination, I believe she will work to pick up where she left off last year, which helps our team get closer than we got last season.”
Shy appeared in 21 matches last season before missing the final seven due to an injury. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. native, totaled 47 kills, 106 digs, 10 assists, four blocks and was tied for fourth on the team in service aces with 15.
“Rhyan is returning from shoulder surgery and was limited with what she could do during the offseason,” said Coach Bozier. “She displays passion and determination for the sport of volleyball. Rhyan is a talented athlete who will be competing for the libero position and possibly outside hitter.”
A native of Mukilteo, Wash., Riley finished second on the team in blocks with a season-best 61, and was second in service aces with 17. She totaled 63 kills, 67 digs and 11 assists during the 2009 season.
“Kierra is a quiet player, who despite has been playing out of position, has managed to hold her own as a middle blocker, said Coach Bozier. “Kierra is not an athlete who makes a lot of mistakes and is one of the best blockers on the team. She will continue to be used for her experience as a middle blocker, but will also compete for the starting position as a right side player.”
Carline saw limited action last season, but tallied 59 digs, three kills, three assists, five service aces and a block. A native of Fairview, Oregon, last season she recorded her first career block against Hampton and notched a career-high 15 digs against Binghampton.
Said Coach Bozier, “Delissa is an athlete who has shown improvement since her freshman season and showed a lot of confidence during the off season. Delissa will compete for the libero position, but will also see time as a defensive player in the back row.”
A native of Bellwood, Ill., Beamon led the team in digs from her libero position with a season-best 324, which ranked third in the MEAC (3.52). Beamon also added four kills and 19 assists, both season-bests and finished with eight service aces.
“Dina has suffered injuries since her frehsman season and still is not 100 percent, but she has managed to work hard and be in the starting line-up,” said Coach Bozier. “Dina finished in the top three in the conference in digs and will compete for the starting libero position. I do believe that with her defensive abilities and experience, she will see playing time in the back row.”
Lemons, who will contend for the starting job at setter in 2010, played sparingly last season in a reserve role. The Oxnard, Calif. native finished second on the team with 140 assists, 39 digs, 12 kills, eight service aces and nine blocks, while playing in 20 matches.
“Jourdan saw limited time as a setter last season, but has shown improvement and maturity during the spring season,” said Coach Bozier. “Jourdan is very competitive, regardless of the game on and off the court and plays with a lot of passion for the game. I am expecting for her to compete for the starting setter position.”
Johnson, a native of Sacramento, Calif., saw limited playing time last season, appearing in eight matches, while playing in eight sets. Johnson totaled two kills, one assist and one block during the 2009 season.
“Ashley saw very little time last year, not because of her ability, but her lacking of confidence,” said Coach Bozier. “She showed much improvement during the spring season, so I am excited to see her play at a level I am sure she is capable of playing at. Ashley will not only compete for playing time, but I believe she is capable of being a 'go to hitter'.”
Joining the Lady Bears this season will be sophomore transfer, Tara Wallace (Uniondale, N.Y./Nassau Community College along with three freshmen in #Ngebui (Natalie) Chafeh# (Fontana, Calif./Notre Dame High), Nigeria Owens (Hacienda Heights, Calif./Los Ahos High) and Janelle Wilson (Avondale, Ariz./La Joya Community High).
“Tara is a solid athlete who brings experience of being a 'go to' hitter at her junior college,” said Coach Bozier. “I believe once she learns our system, she could be one of our starters.”
“Nigeria is an athlete with lots of potential. She needs to work on getting stronger and may not see much playing time this year. I do believe with time, Nigeria will become a threat in the conference.”
“Natalie is a freshman setter who knows the game and is very talented. She will be a player everyone in the conference will take notice to. Although she is young, she could possibly make a big impact for our offense. Not only is she a talented setter, but she can also swing with amazing power.”
“Janelle is a good athlete, who has been playing middle, but might be a better outside hitter. I am excited to see how well she will progress throughout this season. She has the ability to compete for a starting position as an outside hitter and will see time at middle as well.”
Schedule
Coach Riley-Bozier has again put together a tough and challenging non-conference schedule for the Lady Bears, who will once again open up on the road for the sixth straight season.
The schedule features 15 non-conference opponents, two of which are first-time foes and four tournaments, including the Battle of Baltimore, which Morgan State will co-host with the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) on Sept. 3-4.
Morgan State opens up the 2010 campaign against Saint Francis-Pa. in the opener of the Courtyard by Marriott Invitational (Aug. 27-28) co-hosted by Duquesne and Robert Morris.
The Lady Bears will also take on host Duquesne on the opening day, before facing Montana State and co-host Robert Morris on the final day.
The Lady Bears then take part in the second annual Battle of Baltimore (Sept. 3-4), where they will face Loyola-Md. and Towson on the opening day at UMBC. Morgan State concludes the tournament the next day when it hosts UMBC for its home opener at 7 p.m. at Hill Field House.
Morgan State returns to the road when it travels to Ohio for the CSU Invitational, hosted by Cleveland State (Sept. 10-11). The first day of the tournament the Lady Bears will take on Kent State, before concluding with Cleveland State and George Washington.
Following a non-conference home match against Navy, the Lady Bears will take part in their final regular season tournament when they head to North Carolina for the Spartan Spiketacular, hosted by UNC Greensboro (Sept 17-18). The Lady Bears open up with host UNC Greensboro then take on Gardner-Webb and will close out the tournament with a meeting against MEAC South member Norfolk State for the first time since 2006.
Morgan State hosts American on Sept. 29 for its final non-conference match of the season, before beginning MEAC play with three consecutive matches on the road. The Lady Bears open up against three-time defending MEAC North Division champion, Maryland Eastern Shore (Oct. 8), then visits Howard (Oct. 10) and crosstown rival Coppin State (Oct. 15).
The Lady Bears play host to Delaware State for their annual Dig Pink Match on Oct. 17, then travel to Hampton to take on the Lady Pirates on Oct. 22, before returning home for a season-long three-game homestand against Maryland Eastern Shore (Oct. 24), Howard (Oct. 29) and Coppin State (Oct. 31).
Morgan State concludes its road slate at Delaware State (Nov. 5) and finishes the regular season at home against Hampton (Nov. 7) for Senior Day. The conference tournament takes place Nov. 19-21 in Baltimore, Md. on the campus of Coppin State University.
