WASHINGTON (August 26, 2022) – Howard University women's volleyball team opened the 2022 campaign with a 3-1 victory (21-25, 25-18, 25-6, 25-22) over George Mason in the annual D.C. Challenge.
 
Outside hitters Dami Awojobi (Hempstead, N.Y.) and Rya McKinnon (Bessemer, Ala.) led the Bison attack with 24 combined kills in the win.
 
HU (1-0) took its first lead of the set after a kill by Awojobi in the opening frame, 10-9, but the Patriots responded with a quick 4-0 run and held on to take game one, 25-21.
 
Moments into game two, George Mason held an early 3-1 advantage until HU went on a quick 4-0 spurt, 5-3. From that point on, the Bison went on to win set two, 25-18, and took the momentum into game three.
 
Howard dominated game three, 25-6, leading from start-to-finish with a .407 hitting percentage and held a 2-1 match lead.
 
George Mason (0-1) scored the first two points in game four, but the Bison responded with a 5-0 run, capped off by back-to-back kills from McKinnon, 5-2. Despite the Patriots' late charge, HU kept George Mason at bay en route to their first win of the season, 25-22.
 
Middle blockers Cimone Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) and Tamar Wells (Apopka, Fla.) combined for 20 kills while senior setter Kayla Diaz (Nanuet, N.Y.) had 47 assists and five digs in the victory.
 
Olyvia Kennedy led the Patriots with a team-leading nine kills in the loss.
 
Saturday (Aug. 27), the Bison travel crosstown to face Georgetown in the D.C. Challenge showdown. Match time is slated for 7 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.