RALEIGH, N.C. (September 1, 2023) – Howard University women's volleyball is back in the winner's circle after bouncing back from a 2-0 match deficit to defeat Winthrop in a five-set marathon (21-25, 20-25, 27-25, 25-21, 15-11).
Reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year sophomore standout Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.) led the Bison with her fourth straight double-double (18 kills & 10 digs) in the victory.
The match got off to an evenly paced start before the Bison inched away to a 13-8 lead. An uncontested five-point run by the Eagles leveled the playing field at 13-13 before they managed a two-point advantage, 20-18. Senior Brookelynn Thomas (Blythewood, S.C.) sent a volley of kills the Bison's way, pushing the Eagles to a 25-20 win.
Winthrop found their way to another 13-8 lead in the second set. The Eagles' rhythm quickly faltered, giving away four consecutive points on attack errors while cutting the advantage to a two-point game, 15-13. The Bison continued to build off the miscues across the net, coming close to evening the board, 19-18. Thomas sent the final kill across the court for a 25-20 claim to set two.
McKinnon opened the third frame with a kill, but the Eagles soon took over; thus, pulling away to a 10-6 lead. The Bison offense ignited with a six-point run and another uninterrupted run gave Howard the needed surge to push ahead, 22-21. Both squads went back-and-forth in the final moments, pushing the Bison's comeback into extra points. In an exciting finish, an error gave HU a 26-25 lead before a kill by McKinnon sent the match to a fourth set, 27-25.
The fourth set was a well-balanced battle - the board evening out eight times within the first 10 points. The Bison gained momentum with a five-point stretch, giving them the upper hand, 14-10. The Eagles charged ahead, but the effort fell short as the Bison's front line proved too much; thus, claiming the fourth set, 25-21.
The fifth and deciding set began with four consecutive points for HU. Charging full steam ahead, Howard cruised to a 13-7 advantage before claiming the set, 15-11.
Graduate setter Kayla Diaz (Rockland, N.Y.) continues to lead the conference in assists, adding 37 to her stats in the win.
Defensively, sophomore libero Claire Simpson (Plainfield, Ill.) notched her fourth consecutive 20-plus dig game.
The Bison are back in action Saturday (Sept. 2) at 1 p.m., as they close out the Wolfpack Invitational against undefeated Rutgers.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.
