WASHINGTON (August 24, 2023) – Howard University women's volleyball team is set to play in the annual DC Invitational this weekend. The invitational tourney will feature five teams including Howard, American, George Mason, George Washington (GWU), and Georgetown, with HU facing Georgetown, GWU and George Mason.
Friday, August 25, the Lady Bison will face the Hoyas at 6 p.m. for Rep Your State night at Burr Gymnasium. Next, they will face GWU Saturday, August 26, inside Burr, with their final matchup against George Mason taking place in Fairfax, Va., Sunday, August 27, in a game that will be televised on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Bison fans can follow all the action from Burr via our live stats or live video, and the game against George Mason on ESPN+.
MATCHUP PREVIEWS
HOWARD
This will be the opening tournament for the Lady Bison, who will be looking to start the year off strong on the way to reclaiming the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Tournament Championship after last season's semifinal defeat at the hands of Delaware State.
HU handily defeated all of the participating teams in this year's invitational last season, saved George Washington as that match was canceled.
Sophomore standout outside hitter
Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.) finished last season having accumulated 198 kills (3.36 per set) and a .345 hitting percentage on her way to MEAC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors, as well as AVCA East Region Player of the Year and AVCA All-American Honorable Mention. McKinnon received Preseason MEAC Player of the Year honors and Preseason All-Conference honors in the lead-up to this year.
Joining McKinnon on the Preseason All-Conference team are senior outside hitter
Jennifer Bolden (Los Angeles) and graduate setter
Kayla Diaz (Rockland, N.Y.). Bolden ended in the top 10 in the MEAC in hitting percentage (.245), kills (203) and points (222.5) while Diaz led the MEAC in assists per set (10.61) and placed third in service aces (47).
GEORGETOWN
Georgetown will play their first game under new head coach AJ Bonetti.
Outside Hitters Mary Grace Goyena and Giselle Williams return after leading the Hoyas last season with 2.91 and 2.38 kills per set, respectively.
GEORGE WASHINGTON
In Head Coach Katie Reifert's first year on the sideline, GWU finished the season 18-15 overall and 11-7 in conference play, which included a semifinal appearance at the 2022 Atlantic 10 Championship.
GWU returns 12 letterwinners from last season, including conference honorees MC Daubendiek and Liv Womble, who received Second Team honors
GEORGE MASON
George Mason looks to bounce back after a tough 7-22 season a year ago.
Megan Shifflett Bachmann enters her second season at the helm for the Patriots.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
On Aug. 31-Sept. 2, Howard travels to Raleigh, N.C., for the Wolfpack Invitational, hosted by N.C. State. HU battles Winthrop, Rutgers and host North Carolina State during the three-day tourney.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
