TOWSON, Md. – The Towson University volleyball team wrapped up the first weekend of the season with a straight set victory over Morgan State Sunday afternoon at TU Arena – winning 25-20, 25-13, 25-19.
 
Victoria Barrett led the way with 14 kills, seven digs and five blocks. The preseason Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year had 61 kills, while hitting .355, this weekend in victories over St. Francis (PA), Duquesne, Lehigh and Morgan. She also finished with 33 digs, six service aces and has been involved in 14 blocks.
 
"With such a new team, we didn't know if we could go 4-0 but we are leaving this weekend with a little bit of confidence. With two weekends before conference play begins, we could be in a really good spot," Towson head coach Don Metil said. "The conference gave Vic some accolades before the season started and if she keeps performing like this weekend and stay healthy, she will be a good candidate for Player of the Year."
 
Barrett and Sarah Callender combined for nine kills in the opening set, but the Tigers needed a 5-0 run to win the set after Morgan used an 8-2 run to tie the set at 20-all.  

Towson raced out to a 10-1 advantage in the middle set – courtesy of six blocks, including five in a row. Barrett had a solo block and combined with Ylenia De Mango for three blocks. De Mango teamed with Zyare Abdul-Rahim on two others. Freshmen Zuzia Bury, in her collegiate debut, closed out the set with three consecutive aces.

"The OH2 (Outside Hitter 2) spot is very competitive, and we gave Sarah Callender the call but what a great opportunity for Zuzia to come in and contribute," added Metil. "She has a decent arm and is still getting used to the American system, which is a little faster. We put her into the game when she did not have to worry about the tempo of the set so much, so we used her in the back two and she did a good job."

In the final set, Callender had three kills early to help Towson build an 11-8 lead. Barrett had three kills late as the Tigers finished the sweep.

Towson has now won 17 consecutive matches versus the Bears and leads the all-time series 38-2.

Records:

• Towson – 4-0
• Morgan State – 0-4

 Key Stats

• Towson finished the match with a .367 hitting percentage and held Morgan to .073.
• Setters Maisie Jesse and Kaitlyn Moran combined for 33 assists.
• De Mango engaged in eight blocks and finished with four kills on just five swings.

 How it Happened

• In the opening set, Barrett had five kills to help Towson take a 13-10 lead.
• The Tigers went up 18-12 on Callender's fourth kill of the set.
• Morgan battled back and used an 8-2 run to tie the set at 20-all.
• Coming out of a timeout, Towson scored three straight points, which included a kill from freshman Ava Nakai and a combo block from Barrett and De Mango to force a Morgan timeout.
• The Tigers closed out the set on an attack error by Morgan and an ace from Sydney Stewart.
• Towson scored 10 of the first 11 points of the second set, including five straight via blocks. During the run, Barrett had a kill, a solo block and teamed up on three additional blocks. De Mango participated in five combo blocks – three with Barrett and two with Abdul-Rahim.

• Bury closed out the set with three consecutive aces.
• Towson held the Bears to -.111 hitting during the middle set.
• Trailing 6-3 in the third set, Callender had three kills to help Towson take an 11-8 advantage.
•  With the score 21-17, Barrett had back-to-back kills to push the lead to six points the had another kill to set up match point.

Inside the Numbers

• After four matches, Stewart leads the team with nine service aces and 44 digs.  
• Six players are in double digits in digs: Stewart (44), Barrett (33), Moran (30), Jesse (29), Callender (21) and De Mango (12).
• Five players have more than 20 kills: Barrett (61), Nakai (39), Abdul-Rahim (30), Callender (28) and De Mango (22).
• In addition to Bury, Neve Norris and Laura Detweiler made their collegiate debuts.

Up Next
Towson will be on the road next weekend at the Charlotte Invitational with matches versus Delaware State (Friday- 12 p.m.), Tennessee Tech (Friday- 4:30 p.m.) and Charlotte (Saturday-11 a.m.).