DOVER, Del. (October 29, 2026) — Howard University volleyball (7-15, 6-4 MEAC) fell to Delaware State (16-8, 7-3 MEAC), 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 17-25, 20-25), Thursday evening at Memorial Hall.
The Hornets built an early 5-2 advantage, but the Bison answered with a run to tie the score, 6-6, before taking an 8-7 lead. The teams continued trading points, reaching a 14-14 stalemate. Delaware State (DSU) gradually built a lead, moving ahead, 19-16, but Howard rallied to cut the score to one, 19-18.
Zenai Jethroe (Dallas) evened the board, 19-19, with a kill. Howard stayed within reach, but the Hornets held on to take the first set, 25-22.
Howard responded with a service ace from
Addison Buckner (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) to open the second frame. The Bison used a series of Delaware State errors to build an early 7-4 advantage. HU continued to pull away midway through the set with a kill by
Corinne Howard (Derwood, Md.), helping extend the lead, 14-9. Buckner added consecutive kills, pushing the advantage to seven, 18-11. A kill from
Gabby Allen (Laurel, Md.) made it 20-12. DSU mounted a late rally, cutting the deficit to three, 21-18, but Howard maintained its lead.
Tiana Stubbs (Fredericksburg, Va.) added a kill and
Briana Pagan (Dorado, Puerto Rico) delivered the set-clinching point, 25-22, to tie the match at one set apiece.
Howard opened the third set with a 3-2 advantage, but DSU responded with four consecutive points to move ahead, 6-3. The Bison stayed close, trailing 10-8, before Delaware State extended its lead, 13-10, and then 16-12. The Hornets took control with a six-point stretch that pushed the score to eight, 22-14. HU added three points late, including a kill by
Sydnei Jones (Bridgeville, Pa.), but Delaware State closed out the set, 25-17, to take a 2-1 match advantage.
Delaware State opened the final set with three straight points, but Howard worked its way back into the frame, narrowing the margin to one, 5-4. The Bison continued to battle and a kill by Buckner helped keep Howard within striking distance, 16-12. Then, DSU scored six consecutive points to extend its lead, 22-15. HU responded with a late four-point run, highlighted by Buckner's service ace and two kills from
Reese Watkins (Atlanta), cutting the deficit to three, 22-19. The Hornets answered with two points to reach match point, and after Howard made it 24-20, Delaware State closed out the set, 25-20.
Buckner led Howard with 13 kills, nine digs and two service aces.
Camryn Shelton (Charlotte, N.C.) recorded a double-double (21 digs & 11 assists) while
Alexys James (Houston) also contributed with a double-double (17 assists & 16 digs). Jones finished with a double-double (13 assists & 10 digs).
Jethroe added eight kills and Pagan recorded five kills.
As a team, Howard recorded 45 kills, 42 assists and 72 digs. The Bison also notched three service aces in the conference matchup.
Howard volleyball returns home to host Maryland Eastern Shore Sunday, Nov. 1. First-serve at 1 p.m.
For more information on Howard volleyball, visit the official Howard Athletics website
www.hubison.com.
