Washington (November 5, 2018) --- The Howard University volleyball team (16-10, 8-1 MEAC) had its nine-match winning streak ended by Maryland Eastern Shore (9-14, 6-2 MEAC) on Sunday in Burr Gym. The match went to five sets (25-21, 26-28, 25-21, 23-25, 12-15). Entering the match, Howard was undefeated in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

The Hawks opened the board in the first set. Service and attack errors by the Hawks gave the Bison their first three points. A kill by Jurnee Tipton put the Bison up 4-3 and they never trailed after. The Bison win it, 25-21.
The second set was a thrilling shootout between the two teams. The Hawks started the set in the lead, capitalizing off of multiple attack errors. The Bison were able to tie the set at the 7-7 mark and dominated until late in the set. Up 24-21 the Bison could not get the set point needed to move on to set three victorious. The Hawks rallied back to take the set beyond regulation and end it, 28-26, in the Hawks favor.

Set three was a back and forth of lead changes between the two teams until it was tied at 11-11 and 12-12. A service error by the Hawks' Koya Sowells gave the Bison the lead and they remained ahead throughout the set, taking it 25-21.

In sets four and five the Bison could not find the rhythm needed to secure a three-set win. Howard's kills to put points on the board were cancelled out by their attack errors, giving the Hawks the edge in set four. A late comeback rally for the Bison was not enough to keep the Hawks from prevailing in the fourth set. In the fifth set, the Hawks went up 7-6 and remained ahead, closing the set and the game with the win.

Middle blocker Kira Porter led the team with 20 kills. Jurnee Tipton tallied 12 kills, 13 digs and ace and an assist. Senior setter Tamia Dockery posted 54 assists, 14 digs and three aces. Marcelle Butler contributed 10 kills and a block. Libero Fola Wilson had 22 digs. Sydney Jackson, Indira Dandridge and Antonia Kearney were also key contributors to the game.

Statistically, the Bison had more kills (67-59), digs (71-68) and assists (57-51) than the Hawks.

The Bison are still the top team in the conference. They play their final regular season game on Senior Night, Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. against Norfolk State in Burr Gym. The MEAC Tournament will be hosted Nov. 16-18 in Burr Gym where the Bison will compete for their fourth consecutive championship title.

About Howard University Athletics
The Howard University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors 19 NCAA Division I men and women varsity sports. The programs represent six conferences: the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA), Sun Belt Conference, Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference. Visit www.hubison.com to learn more.