Towson sweeps Coppin State, ends Eagles’ record 14-match winning streak
Towson erased a late first-set deficit and took control from the service line Wednesday in Baltimore, sweeping Coppin State 25–22, 25–19, 25–15 at PEC Arena to end the Eagles’ program-record 14-match winning streak.
Towson erased a late first-set deficit and took control from the service line Wednesday in Baltimore, sweeping Coppin State 25–22, 25–19, 25–15 at PEC Arena to end the Eagles’ program-record 14-match winning streak.
The Tigers improved to 11–7 with their second consecutive victory. Coppin State fell to 15–6, with its 6–0 MEAC record unchanged by the nonconference loss.
Towson finished with nine service aces to Coppin’s zero and held the Eagles to a .049 hitting percentage. Neither offense found easy points for much of the night, but the Tigers produced 36 kills to Coppin’s 26 and increased their attacking efficiency in the final set.
Addison Leber led Towson with 10 kills and added nine digs, two aces and three block assists. Anna Rice supplied nine kills and two aces. Malinah Purcell-Telefoni contributed across the front row and service line, recording five kills without an attack error, six block assists and three aces. Kaitlyn Moran distributed 27 assists, while Megan Platt collected 10 digs.
Coppin had its best opportunity in the opening set. Ivanna Luna’s kill gave the Eagles a 15–11 lead, and after Towson answered with five consecutive points, Luna helped put Coppin back ahead 20–19. The Tigers won the next two points, then closed the set with a 4–1 burst after another Luna kill tied it at 21.
The second set turned in Towson’s favor around the midpoint. An 8–3 stretch gave the Tigers an 18–14 advantage. A combined block by McKenzie Parks and Pamela De Jesus Tejedor helped Coppin cut the deficit to two, but the Eagles could not string together consecutive points for the rest of the set.
Towson created considerably more separation in the third. A five-point run pushed the lead to 15–6. Coppin narrowed the gap to 19–13, only for the Tigers to answer with four straight points and move within reach of the sweep. Towson finished the set with 14 kills and a .216 hitting percentage, its best mark of the match.
Parks gave Coppin a defensive highlight with a career-high eight blocks. The Eagles outblocked Towson 10–9, but that edge could not offset the service disparity and offensive struggles. Luna finished with eight kills, Eva Rovello had 24 assists and Coco Figueroa led all players with 11 digs.
Coppin hosts Morgan State on Friday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. Towson next hosts Hampton on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. at SECU Arena.