BALTIMORE (October 10, 2021) – Howard University women's volleyball team suffered a five-set loss on the road at Coppin State (25-18, 19-25, 18-25, 25-18, 10-15) inside PEC Arena.
With the loss, HU (6-11, 3-2 MEAC) saw its three-match winning streak come to an end.
Newcomer
Bria Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) led the Bison with a team-leading 13 kills while junior
Alex Smith (New Orleans) added 12 kills, eight digs and pair of blocks in the loss.
Midway through the first set, Coppin State's (CSU) Paola Caten delivered a kill and gave the Eagles a slight edge, 14-13, but the Bison responded with five straight points and created separation to win game one, 25-18.
HU opened game two with a 6-1 lead, forcing CSU to use a timeout. After the brief intermission, Coppin State went on a 12-4 spurt to grab the upper hand, 13-10, and never looked back to tie the match at one apiece.
In the pivotal third set, both clubs were deadlocked at 12 after a kill from third-year Bison
Tamar Wells (Apopka, Fla.). From that point, the Eagles scored five consecutive points to gain momentum and take game three, 18-25.
In game four, both teams were tied at 11 until HU rallied off six straight points, led by sophomore
Jennifer Bolden (Los Angeles) with three kills, and forced a deciding fifth set. The Los Angeles native finished the afternoon with nine kills and three total blocks.
Smith put HU ahead midway through the fifth set, 8-7, but the Eagles capitalized on several hitting errors by the Bison to take the game, 10-15, and match.
Wells recorded six kills, four digs and four total blocks (team-high) while fellow classmate
Kayla Diaz (Nanuet, N.Y.) added 24 assists and five digs in a losing effort.
Defensively, junior
Essence Bell (Ocala, Fla.) had a match-best 31 digs.
For CSU (9-7, 3-1 MEAC), Miajavon Coleman notched a double-double (18 kills and 14 digs) in the victory.
HU continues its road swing down South, beginning Thursday (Oct. 14).
On Oct. 14, the Bison face South Carolina State in Orangeburg, S.C. Match time is set for 6 p.m. The next day (Oct. 15), Howard goes to Durham, N.C. to square off against North Carolina Central. First serve at 7 p.m.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
