WASHINGTON (August 29, 2019) – Howard University Women's Volleyball team begins its 2019 campaign with the annual D.C. Challenge, hosted by crosstown foe George Washington (GW). The season starts Friday (Aug. 30) with a pair of contests against Hartford and American, followed by one match Saturday versus GW.
SEASON PREVIEW
Entering his eighth season, head coach
Shaun Kupferberg and the Bison look to win its fifth consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title, 12th overall, while earning their fifth straight trip to the NCAA Tournament, sixth overall.
In seven seasons, Kupferberg has turned the Bison program into one of the conference's elite. He went from a one-win club in 2012 to winning the conference four consecutive years (2015-18). During that span, Kupferberg, three-time MEAC Coach of the Year ('14, '16, '18), has led Howard to four 20-win seasons, at least a share of the MEAC Northern Division title in four of the last five years (2014-16, '18), over two dozen All-MEAC and MEAC All-Academic honors and four straight NCAA Tournament appearances (2015-18).
During the preseason, the conference revealed its 2019 women's volleyball preseason team and where Howard University saw three Bison make the squad: senior
Kira Porter (Lake Tahoe, Nev.) and juniors
Jurnee Tipton (Ypsilanti, Mich.) and
Fola Wilson (Minneapolis, Minn.).
MATCHUP PREVIEWS
HARTFORD
Posting the most wins since 2014 (11), Hartford is coming off a 2018 campaign that featured the program's first berth in the America East Tournament since 1996. Nine Hawks return to the court for second-year head coach Vinh Nguyen in 2019, including senior middle blocker Jenna Bridges, the 2018 America East Player of the Year.
AMERICAN
American brings mix of youth and experience on the 2019 squad after graduating a talented class in 2018, including three-time AVCA All-Region and Patriot League Player of the Year, Aleksandra Kazala. Leading the group of returners is 2019 Patriot League Preseason All-League selection, junior outside hitter Helena Elbaek, and 2017 PL Libero of the Year, senior Kristen Largay.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
George Washing returns four starters, plus its libero back from last year's team that finished strong with three straight wins to end the year. Seniors Skylar Iott (385 kills) and Jordan Young (185) are the top returning outside hitters with classmate Jaimeson Lee returning as the primary distributor after recording nearly 900 assists last season.
UPCOMING SEASON
Monday (Sept. 2), Howard heads to College Park for Labor Day where the Maryland Terps await. Match time is set for 6 p.m.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
