CATONSVILLE, MD – The Winthrop volleyball team split two matches Saturday at the Maddie Bingaman Memorial Tournament, downing the Morgan State Bears after falling to the UMBC Retrievers.

Winthrop improved to 5-5 on the season with the split and will next host Western Carolina on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Winthrop Coliseum.

Against the Morgan State Bears, the two sides were all square through the opening 30 points of the first set.  Winthrop then went on a 7-3 run, taking a 22-18 lead.  Morgan State was able to pull a few points back but not enough at the Eagles took the first set 25-21.

The Eagles rolled in the second set, taking down the Bears 25-11.  After the two sides were tied 4-4 in the third set, Winthrop went on an 8-2 run, opening a 12-6 advantage.  The deficit was ultimately too much for the Bears to overcome as the Eagles took the third set 25-16.

Sydney Gunter led Winthrop with nine kills against the Bears while Emma Weakland added eight.  Siani Yamaguchi totaled 20 assists while Hannah Lackey tallied 19.  Carlie Skelton finished with 12 digs.

In the first game of the day against the host Retrievers, Winthrop's offense struggled, hitting only .161 with 34 kills.  In the first set, the two sides were even through the first 20 points.  Despite UMBC edging away slightly, the Eagles held strong until late in the set when the Retrievers were able to pull away for the 25-18 victory.

The second set was almost a mirror of the first as the teams were tight early before UMBC was able to pull away late for the 25-18 win.  Neither side was able to gain more than a two-point edge through most of the third set.  Winthrop had a late 21-20 edge but UMBC closed the set on a 5-1 run, to win 25-22 and take the match.

Gunter was the top hitter for the Eagles, recording seven kills while Sammie-Jo Ah-Hong added six.  Lackey finished with 23 assists and Skelton led the team with 13 digs.