WASHINGTON (November 23, 2019) – Howard University women's volleyball team reached the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Finals after knocking off rival Coppin State (CSU) in four (25-14, 25-14, 22-25, 25-20) inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
With the win, HU (19-12) reached its sixth consecutive conference finals and awaits the winner between Morgan State and North Carolina A&T State.
 
"We had an idea of what this team could be at the beginning of the season and that really came to pass in [sets] one and two," Howard head coach Shaun Kupferberg said. "We looked at each other on the coaching staff and said, 'This is what we've been trying to be all year.'"
 
HU recorded a .311 hitting percentage, led by third-year outside hitter Jurnee Tipton (Ypsilanti, Mich.). The Michigan native produced a double-double, 19 kills and 11 digs, in the victory.
 
Both squads were deadlocked at eight in the opening set, but the Bison scored four consecutive points to create separation and take game one, 25-14.
 
Set two saw Howard firing on all cylinders, generating a match-high .500 hitting percentage. Howard led game two from start to finish and took a commanding 2-0 match lead.
 
Game three witnessed both clubs going back-and-forth until the Eagles scored the final three points to pull within one of tying the match, 2-1.
 
Howard regained the momentum in set four, producing a .326 hitting percentage. Sophomore Kailyn Williams (Arlington, Texas) led the Bison attack with eight kills in the game four win.
 
Williams finished with 12 kills on the night while junior Myca Mitchell (Clovis, Calif.) added 11 kills.
 
Freshmen Semira Blair (Fort Worth, Texas) and Kayla Diaz (Nanuet, N.Y.) combined for 51 assists and third-year libero Fola Wilson had a match-leading 19 digs in the victory.
 
For CSU (13-18), Jordan Celestine notched a team-best eight kills in the loss.
 
Admission for Sunday's championship match is $10.

UPDATE: No 1. Howard will face No. 2 Morgan State in the 2019 MEAC Championship at 8 a.m. on ESPNU.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com