WASHINGTON (Sept. 15, 2023) – Howard University women's volleyball team is set to play against Georgia (UGA) and #10 Georgia Tech (GT) at the Georgia Tech Classic in Atlanta. The invitational features Howard, UGA, San Diego and the host Yellow Jackets.
 
Saturday, Sept. 16, the Lady Bison will face the nationally-ranked Yellow Jackets at 4
p.m. (televised on ACC Network+). Then, they take on Georgia Sunday, Sept. 17, to finish their road trip.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
 
Bison fans can follow all the action from Atlanta via our live stats and/or live video and the game against Georgia Tech on ACC Network+.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEWS
 
HOWARD
 
Howard (3-6) is looking for a bounce-back weekend after a rough patch, dropping its last four contests.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.) has started off this season red-hot with a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) leading 145 kills (4.14 per set) and 157 points (4.49 per set). Nationally, the Alabama native ranks Top 20 in total kills, along with Top 50 in attacks per set (35^th), points (33^rd) and total attacks (35^th).
 
Fifth-year setter Kayla Diaz (Rockland, N.Y.) has also had an immense start, ranking in the
Top 50 in the country in service aces with 18 (1^st in the MEAC) and total assists with 333 (1^st in the MEAC).
 
GEORGIA TECH
 
#10 Georgia Tech (7-0) is looking like one of the strongest teams in the nation this season with a 7-0 start, including three wins against ranked opponents (two wins against #12 Ohio State and one against #8 Penn. State).
 
The Yellow Jackets are Top 5 in the nation in assists per set (13.5), kills per set (14.75) and team attacks per set (38.04). They are also sixth in the nation in digs per set at 17.54.
 
Freshman outside hitter Larissa Mendes (Fortaleza, Brazil) received ACC Co-Freshman of the Week honors after a 36 kill, 12 dig, four block outing in the previous week. Mendes leads her team in kills and third in the ACC in points per set (4.33).
 
GEORGIA
 
Georgia (7-2) is coming off a sweep at the Bulldog Classic last week, which they hosted in Athens, Ga. The Bulldogs rank Top 5 in the SEC in three major categories (aces per set, opponent hitting percentage and team service aces).
 
Senior middle blocker Sophie Fischer (Fort Mill, S.C.) stands out for this Bulldogs team, tallying
146.5 points, 5.23 points per set (16^th in the nation) and 4.21 kills per set (4th in SEC).
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
In their previous match, the Lady Bison fell 3-0 to the Maryland Terrapins at home. McKinnon led the way with 12 kills and a service ace, with senior outside hitter Jennifer Bolden (Los Angeles) contributing eight kills.
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
Next up, HU faces American University Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Burr for their final match before MEAC play.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.