ATLANTA (September 17, 2023) – Howard University women's volleyball team wrapped up the weekend with a four-set loss against SEC opponent Georgia (19-25, 25-22, 20-25, 16-25).
 
Junior outside hitter Dami Awojobi (Hempstead, N.Y.) led the way with 10 kills, four service aces and four digs.
 
HU trailed early through the opening frame, but the Bison scored five consecutive points and tied the set midway, 15-15. After a Bulldog timeout, Georgia regained the momentum and took game one, thanks to a 10-4 spurt, 25-19.
 
Both clubs went back-and-forth in game two, accumulating five ties and three lead changes. With the score deadlocked at 16 apiece, back-to-back kills from senior outside hitter Jennifer Bolden (Los Angeles) and junior middle blocker Maya Gerlach (Philadelphia) gave the Bison momentum and forced Georgia (UGA) into a timeout, 18-16.
 
Immediately after the brief intermission, consecutive Georgia errors extended the lead, 20-16. UGA made a run late, but the Bison withstood Georgia's charge to take game two, 25-22.
 
In the pivotal set three, both squads were evenly matched with 10 ties throughout. Junior outside hitter Bria Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) delivered a kill and tied game three at 19 each. From that point, UGA grabbed the upper hand and closed the set with a 6-1 run, 25-20, and took a 2-1 match lead.
 
Georgia led from start-to-finish in game four, producing a .424 hitting percentage with four total blocks. UGA would take set four, 25-16, and the match, 3-1.
 
Five-year setter Kayla Diaz (Rockland, N.Y.) filled the stat sheet, finishing with 35 assists, five digs and three total blocks. Defensively, second-year Bison Claire Simpson (Plainfield, Ill.) had a match-leading 15 digs in the loss.
 
For Georgia (9-3), Sophie Fischer racked up 19 kills (match-high) and seven total blocks (one solo) while producing a .548 hitting percentage.
 
Next up, HU (3-8) faces American Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Burr for their final match before conference play. First serve is slated for 6 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.