BALTIMORE (October 18, 2023) – Howard volleyball returned to action Wednesday night with a 3-1 win (25-20, 25-18, 25-22, 25-20) over Morgan State (MSU). The match originally slated for October 6 moved the Bison to a 5-2 conference record (9-11 overall).
 
With a .400 hitting percentage, reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Week Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.) led the offense with 12 kills.
 
Capitalizing on nine kills and a handful of aces, Howard worked its way to a 14-12 lead before an uncontested four-point run extended the advantage, 18-12.
 
MSU retaliated with a run of their own and pulled within two, 19-17, but the charge fell short as junior outside hitter Bria Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) reached set point with a kill before following up with an ace to take the set, 25-20.
 
A combination of aces and errors helped Morgan State jump out to a 7-4 advantage. Working their way back, HU tied it up, 8-8, before overcoming the Bears with multiple short runs. The largest Bison charge would give Howard a 22-17 lead before back-to-back errors handed the Bison a 25-18 win.
 
In their lone win of the evening, Morgan State broke out with another 7-4 upper hand. The Bison threatened the Bear's momentum with two five-point runs – gaining a 19-17 advantage. MSU persevered with three consecutive points, forcing Howard into a timeout, 23-21. The Bears came out of the break with a kill for set point. The Bears nearly fumbled with excitement as they handed HU a point off an error, 24-22. Regaining focus, MSU closed it out with a kill to earn their first set, 25-22.
 
HU gained an early hold on the final frame, but a 6-2 run from the Bears would overturn the lead, 13-11. With consecutive kills, Woodard gave the Bison back the lead before twin sister Cimone Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) extended the charge with back-to-back service aces, 19-15. Inching their way to victory, a ball-handling error placed set match in view. Knocking down her ninth kill of the night, B. Woodard set one into Bears' territory to closed out the match, 25-20.
 
Senior Amari Patterson (Chicago) highlighted the match with a career-high five service aces while adding 10 digs to the floor.
 
Team leader in digs and reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Week Claire Simpson (Plainville, Ill.) added another 12 digs to the season's stats while MEAC Co-Setter of the Week Kayla Diaz (Rockland, NY) commanded the floor with 30 assists, two aces and a game-high three blocks.
 
The Bison continue road play Sunday, October 22, when they face North Carolina Central in Durham, N.C. at 1 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.