PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Howard University volleyball team is back on the road for the Penn Invitational this weekend. The Bison will take on George Mason at noon and Penn at 8 p.m. on Friday to start the tournament. On Saturday, the team will play Lafayette at 12 p.m. before wrapping up the weekend against Bucknell at 5 p.m.
Howard (4-3) hopes to rebound after being swept in three games at the Shamrock Invitational last weekend at Notre Dame. Outside hitter Khaila Donaldson finished the tournament with 40 kills, 28 digs and seven blocks for a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
The Bison have multiple players atop the statistically standings in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Setter Tamia Dockery has a league-high 8.93 assists per set. Middle blocker Olubunmi Okunade is averaging 1.33 blocks/set and her 36 total blocks ranks 13th among the nation's statistical leaders. Donaldson checks in second with 3.30 kills/set, while libero Morgan Marlbrough's 4.44 digs/set also stands second in the conference.
Howard took down George Mason in three sets in its season-opening match at the D.C. Challenge. It was the first time in program history that the Bison defeated the Patriots. Donaldson and outside hitter Jessica Young paced the team with nine kills apiece, while Okunade added eight kills and three blocks. The Patriots are looking to get their first win after going 0-6 to start the season.
Penn holds a 6-0 advantage in the all-time series with Howard. The Bison dropped a 3-0 decision when the two teams met last year in the D.C. Classic. The Quakers kicked off their season last weekend in Texas and went 0-4.
Lafayette is off to a 2-2 start with victories over Fairleigh Dickinson and St. Peter's. Howard trails the all-time series against the Leopards, 2-1.
Bucknell is 2-4 overall after going 1-2 last weekend, its only win at the tournament coming over Howard's MEAC rival Coppin State. Bucknell leads the all-time series, 4-3, and has won the last three meetings.
Fans can follow the team on Twitter at HUBisonVB and HUBisonSports.
