WASHINGTON (October 14, 2022) – Howard University women's volleyball team cruised past North Carolina Central (NCCU), defeating the Eagles in straight sets (25-9, 25-11, 25-23) while extending their win streak to five.
 
Overall, HU eclipsed a .383 hitting percentage.
 
Freshman standout Rya McKinnon (Bessemer, Ala.) led the way with a match-best 11 kills, followed by sophomore Colleen Temple (Baton Rouge, La.) with 10 kills.
 
Both squads were deadlocked early in game one, 3-3, until the Bison tallied 12 unanswered to pull away and take set one, 25-9.
 
NCCU opened game one with a quick 3-0 advantage, but the Bison responded with another run. North Carolina Central held a 5-3 edge until HU went on a 9-0 run to take control of the set and match.
 
Both clubs went back-and-forth in game three with NCCU taking a 19-18 lead late. But Howard kept the pressure on and closed out the contest with back-to-back kills from Temple and fellow classmate Dami Awojobi (Hempstead, N.Y.).
 
Senior setter Kayla Diaz (Nanuet, N.Y.) had a match-leading 23 assists while fellow classmate libero Essence Bell (Ocala, Fla.) produced 17 digs in the victory.
 
Four Eagles finished with four kills in the loss.
 
Sunday (Oct. 16), Howard hosts South Carolina State for the annual Pink Game. Match time is set for 1 p.m. inside The Burr.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.