BALTIMORE, Md. – The Hampton University volleyball team fell in straight sets to Morgan State on Sunday in Hill Field House, as the Lady Bears won 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 27-25).

The Lady Pirates (13-10, 7-2 MEAC) have dropped consecutive matches for the first time since Sept. 20-21.

"Winning on the road is hard, especially in conference play," first-year head coach Karen Weatherington said. "You've got teams out there fighting for positioning (for the MEAC Tournament), and they're not backing down for anyone.

"We've got three more matches before the tournament starts, and we'll re-focus on our next opportunity, and we're looking forward to being at home against a tough Howard squad."

Junior rightside Vendula Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic) led the way with 22 kills, while junior outside hitter Sonja Maksimovic (Belgrade, Serbia) added 16 kills and hit a team-best .375 (four errors in 32 attacks).

Senior setter BIbiany Fonseca (Uberlandia, Brazil) had 38 of Hampton's 40 assists, while senior libero Sheileen Pagan (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico) had a team-high seven digs.

The Lady Pirates led 5-4 early in the first set after a kill from Strakova, before Morgan State answered with a 7-1 run to take an 11-7 lead. Hampton closed within one, 12-11, on a kill from Strakova, and the Lady Pirates later tied the set at 21-21 after a kill from Maksimovic.

Hampton also tied the set at 23-23 on a Strakova kill and 24-24 before the Lady Bears scored the next two points to take the set.

The Lady Pirates led early in the second set, going up 7-4 after a block from junior middle blocker Marija Kocevska (SkopjeKarpos, Macedonia), before Morgan State went on a 6-2 run to take a 10-9 lead.

Hampton answered with a 5-2 spurt, taking a 14-12 lead on a Maksimovic kill, and Strakova later put Hampton up 17-15 with a kill. But Morgan State scored six of the next seven points to take a 21-18 lead. The Lady Pirates closed to within one on three occasions, including 24-23 after a Strakova kill.

But the Lady Bears scored the next point to go up 2-0 in the match.

Hampton burst out with some momentum in the third set, taking a 7-2 lead after a kill from Strakova. The Lady Pirates then took a 9-3 lead, before Morgan State went on a 9-5 run to close the gap to 14-12. The Lady Pirates later led 23-18.

But Morgan State closed the set on a 9-2 run to take the match.

The Lady Pirates hit .189 (46 kills, 22 errors in 127 attacks) for the match, while Morgan State (10-12, 5-4 MEAC) hit .255 (40 kills, 15 errors in 98 attacks) for the match. The Lady Bears held a 3-1 edge in service aces.

Zuri Smith led the Lady Bears with 14 kills.

"We knew there would be teams that would test our resolve," Weatherington said. "We'll bounce back. We'll be fine."

The Lady Pirates will return to Holland Hall on Sunday for their home finale, and Senior Day, against Howard at 3 p.m. For more information on Hampton University volleyball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.