WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Howard University women's volleyball team wrapped up spring practice, the Lady Bison signed Jurnee Farrell (Denver, Colo.) and Kira Porter (Incline, Nev.) for the 2016-17 season. The pair will arrive on campus next fall ready to help the squad in its pursuit of a second- straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship.

Farrell, a setter from Thomas Jefferson High School, led her team to the Denver Prep League Championship in 2013 and 2015. The Spartans earned a berth to the 4A State Championship in 2013, the first time in 30 years. The four-year letterwinner garnered First Team All-Conference honors during her senior campaign on her way to being named the 2015-16 Outstanding Female Student-Athlete of the Year by the Denver Public Schools. She nabbed All-League recognition in her sophomore and junior seasons and was an honorable mention as a freshman.

Farrell excelled in the classroom, spending her entire high school career on the honor roll and was a four-year academic letterman. The Denver, Colo. native plans to major in Administration of Justice while attending Howard.

"Jurnee is a phenomenal talent to pick up this spring," Howard head coach Shaun Kupferberg said. "Her setting and passing are both at a high level, but that's not what makes her special. Jurnee has such a great competitive spirit that will push everyone in our gym to be a better version of themselves. She finds a way to get things done and plays with an internal confidence rarely seen in high school athletes."

Porter, a middle blocker from Incline High School, was a standout performer in multiple sports, including volleyball and basketball. She earned First Team All-League honors in each of her four years as a member of the volleyball team and was named the team's Most Valuable Player twice. During her senior year, she was a First Team All-State member and league MVP in both volleyball and basketball. Porter helped her basketball team to a state championship in 2014 and a regional championship in 2016.

Academically, Porter worked tirelessly to become a constant fixture on the honor roll. Her hard work paid off, as she was inducted into the National Honors Society.

"Kira is a complete student-athlete," Kupferberg said. "Her general athleticism has allowed her to be successful in multiple sports and that will allow her to adjust easier to the faster game speed here at Howard. She has the ability to contribute at every front row position, but her blocking is what sets her apart entering into her freshman year."

The Lady Bison will kick off the 2016 campaign against George Mason on Friday, August 26 at American University.