WASHINGTON (September 21, 2021) – Howard University women's volleyball team came up short, dropping a heartbreaker to crosstown rival American (AU) in five (28-26, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 12-15).
Rookie
Cimone Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) led the Bison with a team-leading 17 kills while producing a .353 hitting percentage. Fellow classmate and twin sister
Bria Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) notched her third double-double of the season (11 digs and 10 kills) in a losing effort.
Despite hitting a match-best .313 in the opening set, HU (3-9) was in a back-and-forth affair in game one. AU held a 26-25 lead late, but an Eagle hitting error and a pair of kills from C. Woodard secured the opening frame, 28-26.
In game two, American had a one-point advantage late in the set, 18-17, until HU scored five consecutive points to swing the momentum to give the Bison a commanding 2-0 match lead.
Sophomore
Jennifer Bolden (Los Angeles) tied the third set at 21 apiece with a kill, but a Bison error and back-to-back kills gave AU game three, 22-25.
In set four, both clubs were deadlocked at 19 until a pair of hitting errors created separation and helped AU tie the match at two apiece.
In the deciding set, senior setter
Milexa Cardona (Kissimmee, Fla.) delivered a service ace and put the Bison ahead, 8-4, but the Eagles rallied to score six straight points and took a three-point lead, 8-11. HU fought back and tied the game, 11-11, but AU closed out the match on a 4-1 run to win the match.
Cardona flirted with a double-double (49 assists & nine digs) while senior
Ana Williams (Baker, La.) recorded a season-high 10 kills and a pair of blocks in the loss.
For American (6-6), Zeynep Uzen tallied a double-double (18 kills & 13 digs) in the win.
Friday (Sept. 24), the Bison travel to Dover, Del., to take on Delaware State at 6 p.m. Two days later (Sept. 26), Howard returns to The Burr to face Maryland Eastern Shore. Match time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
