BALTIMORE (March 8, 2021) – Howard University women's volleyball team came up short against rival Morgan State (MSU), falling to the Lady Bears in five sets (15-25, 25-17, 14-25, 26-24, 10-15) at Hill Field House.
 
Three Bison reached double-digit kills, led by sophomore middle blocker Tamar Wells (Apopka, Fla.) with a team-best 13.
 
After dropping game one, 15-25, Howard responded with a team-high .375 hitting percentage and tied the contest at one apiece.
 
Wells delivered a kill early in set three and gave the Bison a slim 9-8 advantage, but Howard was unable to keep the momentum going. MSU won game three, 14-25, scoring their next 12-out-of-17 points from HU hitting errors.
 
Morgan State had match-point late in game four, 23-24, but the Bison fought back and forced a fifth set after consecutive hitting errors from MSU and a service ace by junior setter Milexa Cardona (Kissimmee, Fla.), 26-24.

MSU took control of the fifth and deciding set after producing a match-best .562 hitting percentage, scoring nine-out-of-15 points on kills.
 
Redshirt junior Marcelle Butler (Canton, Ga.) and newcomer Jennifer Bolden (Los Angeles) produced 11 kills apiece while Cardona and fellow setter Kayla Diaz (Nanuet, N.Y.) combined for 44 assists in the loss.
 
Defensively, freshman Kendall Smith (Glenview, Ill.) recorded 12 digs in a losing effort.
 
For MSU (3-1, 2-0 MEAC), Tylar Roberson registered a match-high 14 kills while Jada Bivins added 42 assists in the win.
 
On March 11-12, Howard continues league play with a pair of matches against Delaware State (DSU). Thursday (March 11), HU hosts DSU inside Burr Gymnasium. The next night (March 12), the Lady Hornets welcome the Bison to Memorial Hall. Both nights are scheduled for 6 p.m. start times.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.