DURHAM, N.C. (October 22, 2023) - Howard University volleyball extended its win streak Sunday afternoon with a 3-2 victory (17-25, 25-17, 25-18, 19-25, 15-10) at North Carolina Central (NCCU).
 
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Co-Setter of the Week Kayla Diaz (Rockland, N.Y.) highlighted the match with 47 assists - moving the New York native up the program rankings to second all-time in assists (3052). The fifth-year Bison trails only Tamia Dockery (3849).
 
The two teams worked their way to an early 5-5 tie, but a six-count run from the Eagles would give them a 11-7 advantage before extending the gap to 17-11. Multiple back-to-back kills would help the Eagles pull away to their first win of the night, 25-17.
 
Errors would give the Eagles a quick 2-0 advantage that flipped just as quickly as the Bison ran away with five uninterrupted points, 5-2. That push was all Howard needed as they maintained the lead for the rest of the match, producing multiple three-point runs. An attack error would close out the set, 25-17.
 
HU carried its momentum into the third set, jumping out to a 5-1 advantage. A volley of errors would aid the Eagles in balancing the board, 10-10, but a 15-8 run lifted the Bison to their second win of the match, 25-18.
 
Howard opened with a 5-2 lead early in the fourth. Inching their way within arm's reach, the Eagles overtook the Bison, 11-10, with a 5-1 run. HU would even the score four times but fell short as the Eagles soared away on an uncontested five-point run, forcing a fifth set.
 
The floor was evenly paced in the fifth set, that is until an error-kill combo turned the tides in the Bison's favor, 9-7. Transfer Amanda Ifeanyichukwu (The Woodlands, Texas) would bookend a 5-2 run with kills to close the set, 15-10.
 
Reigning HBCU Player of the Year Rya McKinnon (Hoover Ala.) led the Bison, producing her fifth double-double of the season with 24 kills and 10 digs. 
 
Junior Cimone Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) followed up with a season-high 11 kills while leading the Bison with a .600 hitting percentage.
 
The Eagles were led by Kamren Harper (Simpsonville, S.C.) and Emmie Modlin (Pinehurst, N.C.), tallying 11 kills apiece.
 
The Bison continue their business trip in the Carolinas Monday, October 23, with a matchup against South Carolina State at 6 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.