WASHINGTON, D.C. – From the blaring band to animated, foot-stomping, ever-loyal fans – and to talented players rarely pausing to breathe – volleyball at Howard, especially in Burr Gymnasium, is an experience to be savored. It's more than an athletic event.
By game's end, no Howard fan, player, or assistant coach is likely to depart without having posted on social media, laughed, celebrated, cheered, or high-fived.
Even though the names and numbers have changed, one thing has remained consistent: Howard volleyball has combined excellence and entertainment to become the gold standard in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in recent years.
It has the receipts, courtesy of six MEAC tournament championships in the last seven years to back that claim up.
Of course, none of that matters this weekend as Howard (19-9 overall) begins the 2022 MEAC Tournament at Delaware State as a No. 2 seed despite tying Coppin State for the regular season title. The Bison will battle No. 7 seed Morgan State on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Howard's recent run of success has helped the other MEAC programs become competitive. Coppin State and Delaware State, the two teams that handed Howard MEAC defeats this season, are legit threats to win this weekend's tournament.
However, the talented Bison, winners of four straight matches, are excited for the tournament.
In other words, the most wonderful time of the year has arrived for Howard.
"It is fun and challenging because of the target on our backs," Howard freshman outside hitter Rya McKinnon said. "Teams are out to get you because of the name on your jersey. It pushes us in practice. This will be a fun weekend. There are a lot of great teams in our conference. It's going to be a competitive tournament."
As usual, Howard has all the tools heading into this weekend to be the last team standing.
Howard leads the MEAC in assists per set (11.91) and kills per set (13.01). The Bison are also second in hitting percentage (.254) and digs (13.11).
Howard has been fueled by several outstanding performers this season led by McKinnon, who leads the MEAC in kills per set (3.21) and points (3.71).
The Bison also feature four of the top 10 offensive threats in the MEAC as they are ranked among the conference leaders in hitting percentage: Cimone Woodard (second, .369), Tamar
Wells (third, .330), McKinnon (fourth, .326), and Jennifer Bolden (10th, .239 and fifth in kills 2.66).
A portrait of calm and confidence, Kayla Diaz has been the masterful conductor of the Bison offense. A six-time MEAC Setter of the Week, Diaz leads the MEAC in assists per set (10.57) and is third in aces per set (0.48).
Leah Reeves is fourth in service aces (0.45) and McKinnon is eighth (0.38). Essence Bell is fifth in digs per set (3.55).
Tournament play will open with the quarterfinal round on Friday, as Coppin State takes on South Carolina State at 11:30 a.m. Norfolk State and Maryland Eastern Shore will follow at 2:30 p.m. in a 4-5 match-up, and the last quarterfinal match of the day will pit Delaware State against North Carolina Central at 8:30 p.m. Saturday's semifinal round will begin at 5:30 p.m. with the winners of the Coppin State-South Carolina State and Norfolk State-Maryland Eastern Shore matches squaring off – then at 8:30 p.m., the Howard-Morgan State and Delaware State-North Carolina Central winners will play the other semifinal. The tournament's quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be streamed live on Delaware State's YouTube channel. Sunday's championship final will be televised live at 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
Tickets for the 2022 MEAC Volleyball Championship will be sold on-site at Memorial Hall and online at www.dsuhornets.universitytickets.com. A weekend pass will be available for $30, while tickets for Friday's quarterfinal round will be available for $10. Saturday's semifinal tickets will go for $15, and fans can purchase tickets for Sunday's championship match for $20
