DOVER, Del. (November 23, 2024) – Howard University women's volleyball team moved one step closer in returning to the NCAA Tournament, knocking off Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in four sets (25-22, 25-18, 18-25, 25-18) during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Semifinal Round.
 
With the win, HU (23-5) extended its win streak to 17 games while securing a spot in Sunday's (Nov. 24) title match.
 
MEAC Player of the Year junior outside hitter Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.) led the Bison attack with a match-leading 12 kills.
 
Both squads went back-and-forth throughout the opening frame, but six hitting errors from UMES, including three consecutive to end game one, gave HU a 1-0 match advantage.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore scored the first point in game one, but Howard went on a quick 6-0 run to gain the momentum and never looked back; thus, taking a commanding 2-0 match lead into the third set.
 
UMES fought its way back into the match, claiming game three with a respectable .267 hitting percentage.
 
Eastern Shore held the upper hand early in game four, but several hitting errors plagued the Hawks. Howard secured its spot in the title match with a game-winning kill from McKinnon.
 
Texas natives Amanda Ifeanyichukwu (The Woodlands), Bria Woodard (Missouri City) and All-MEAC selection Cimone Woodard (Missouri City) tallied nine kills apiece.
 
MEAC Setter of the Year junior Leah Reeves (Allen, Texas) notched a double-double (37 assists & 12 digs) in the victory.
 
For UMES (12-25), Ranyla Griggs had 12 kills and seven digs in a losing effort.
 
Sunday (Nov. 24), top-seeded Howard meets No. 3 Delaware State for the MEAC Championship. First serve is scheduled for 8:30 p.m., live on ESPNU.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.