DOVER, Del. (September 24, 2021) – Howard University women's volleyball team dropped its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener at Delaware State (DSU) in four sets (24-26, 16-25, 25-14, 19-25).
 
With the setback, HU falls to 3-10 (0-1 MEAC) while the Lady Hornets improved to 13-1 (1-0 MEAC).
 
Freshman Bria Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) led the way, finishing just shy of a double-double with 13 kills (team-high) and nine digs, along with seven total blocks (match-high).
 
Newcomer Cimone Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) delivered a kill and put the Bison ahead late in game one, 24-22, but four consecutive hitting errors from HU gave DSU set one, 24-26.
 
After taking game two, 16-25, the Lady Hornets scored back-to-back kills from Kristi Gomez and Alondra Maldonado to open set three, but the Bison responded with a 6-0 run to take the early lead, 6-2. From that point on, Howard never looked back, producing a match-best .571 hitting percentage in set three while cutting the match deficit, 2-1.
 
In set four, HU held an 8-6 advantage until the Lady Hornets tallied five straight points to take the lead midway through game four, 8-11. DSU ballooned the lead as much as seven, but the Bison refused to go away. Howard cut the deficit as low as two, 17-19, but Delaware State closed the match on a 6-2 spurt, 19-25.
 
Third-year Bison Alex Smith (New Orleans, La.) finished with 12 kills while registering a .308 hitting percentage. Setters Milexa Cardona (Kissimmee, Fla.) and Kayla Diaz (Nanuet, N.Y.) combined for 41 assists in the loss.
 
For DSU, they extended their win streak to nine. Valeria Otero paved the way, notching a double-double (17 digs & 14 kills) in the victory,
 
Sunday (Sept. 26), the Bison return home to face Maryland Eastern Shore. First serve is set for 3 p.m. inside The Burr.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.