Box Score RALEIGH, NC ---  In the opener of the North Carolina State/Courtyard Midtown Invitational, the Howard women's volleyball team defeated the William & Mary Tribe, 3-1 (27-25, 25-23, 13-25, 25-21) on Friday afternoon in Reynolds Coliseum.

Freshman outside hitter Khaila Donaldson led a balanced effort for Howard (7-5), who earned their fifth straight victory by besting William & Mary (4-7). Donaldson posted her fifth double-double of the season with a match-best 15 kills and 11 digs while five other Lady Bison recorded seven or more kills. Senior setter Stephanie Shultis assisted on 42 points, sophomore libero/defensive specialist Morgan Marlbrough recorded 15 digs and senior middle blocker Assata Conway blocked six total attacks – all match highs.

Set one featured nine ties and four lead changes, with the majority of them coming in the latter stages of the game. After a Howard kill by sophomore outside hitter Katherine Broussard gave the Lady Bison their largest lead (18-14), the Tribe went on a 5-1 run to even the score at 19-19. Both teams would remain tied for the next six points, putting them in a 25-25 deadlock. A kill by senior outside hitter Meagan Lagerlef and a William & Mary attack error would give the Lady Bison the set. 

The second set was even more congested than the first, as the two teams tied each other 12 times and passed one another four times. After taking its largest lead of the set (14-10), Howard was forced into seven of those 12 ties but couldn't fend off the Tribe as they proceeded to event the match.

Howard came out in the third set equipped to answer back, never trailing and winning by 12 points.

Set four saw the Lady Bison hit a rough patch early, falling behind by as many as six (9-3). The team gathered itself and outscored the Tribe 22-12 the rest of the way.

Howard will open and close day two of the Midtown Invitational on Saturday with matchups against Coastal Carolina (10 a.m.) and host NC State (7 p.m.).