FAIRFIELD, Conn. (September 11, 2022) – Howard University women's volleyball team wrapped up the weekend with a five-set victory (25-21, 25-21, 23-25, 21-25, 15-12) over Fairfield.
 
With the victory, HU improved to 4-5 while the Stags dropped to 6-5 on the season.
 
Senior setter Kayla Diaz (Nanuet, N.Y.) and reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year sophomore Bria Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) each produced double-doubles in the victory.
 
Fairfield took an 20-19 lead late in game one, but the Bison responded with a 6-1 run to close out the set and take a 1-0 match advantage.
 
The Stags held another slim lead late in game two, 18-17, but HU answered with an 8-3 run, capped off by back-to-back kills from Woodard and junior Jennifer Bolden (Los Angeles) to end the set, 25-21.
 
Both clubs went back-and-forth in games three and four, but the Stags would grab both sets and force a fifth frame.
 
Howard would regain the upper hand in game five and hold off the Stags' comeback bid.
 
Bolden led the way with a team-best 16 kills, followed by second-year Bison Dami Awojobi (Hempstead, N.Y.) with 15 kills.
 
Defensively, senior libero Essence Bell (Ocala, Fla.) had a match-high 18 digs while newcomers Claire Simpson (Plainfield, Ill.) and Leah Reeves (Allen, Texas) added 16 digs and 15 digs, respectively.
 
After the match, Diaz and sophomore Maya Gerlach (Philadelphia) were named to the Fairfield Invitational All-Tournament Team.
 
KJ Johnson led the Stags with a double-double (23 kills & 16 digs) in the loss.
 
On Sept. 16-17, Howard is set to compete in the Penn State Classic, hosted by Penn State University.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.