WASHINGTON (March 28, 2021) – Howard University women's volleyball team dropped a heartbreaking five-set contest versus Delaware State (25-20, 30-28, 10-25, 21-25, 3-15) inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
Redshirt junior Marcelle Butler (Canton, Ga.) led the Bison with 11 kills, followed by freshman Jennifer Bolden (Los Angeles) producing 10 kills.
 
Both squads were deadlocked at 11 in the opening set until the Bison created separation with three straight points, 14-11, and went on to take game one, 25-20.
 
DSU held the upper hand throughout set two, but the Bison refused to go away. HU capitalized on several Delaware State hitting errors and tied the contest at 24. Both clubs went back-and-forth until consecutive points favored Howard to take a commanding 2-0 match advantage.
 
After dropping game three, 10-25, Howard grabbed a four-point advantage after a service ace by newcomer Amari Patterson (Waukegan, Ill.), 10-6, but the Lady Hornets responded with five straight points to take a 10-11 lead midway through the set.
 
Howard (3-11, 2-10 MEAC) regained the advantage in game three with three consecutive points, 13-11, but DSU answered with six consecutive points, 13-17. With both teams locked at 19, Delaware State outscored the Bison, 6-2, and tied the match at two games apiece.
 
Delaware State cruised in the fifth and deciding set, 15-3, to win the match, 3-2.
 
Junior Milexa Cardona (Kissimmee, Fla.) had a team-high 24 assists while fellow setter Kayla Diaz (Nanuet, N.Y.) added 14 assists.
 
Defensively, Patterson registered 16 digs in the loss.
 
For DSU (11-4, 7-3 MEAC), Valeria Otero had a match-high 13 kills in the win.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.