WASHINGTON (September 1, 2024) – Howard University volleyball ended the weekend with a 3-0 sweep (25-16, 25-23, 25-17) over Georgetown on Sunday afternoon, finishing the DMV Invitational 2-1 overall.
 
Junior outside hitter Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.), reigning HBCU Player of the Year, spearheaded the charge, posting her second double-double of the weekend (19 kills & 10 digs) while senior middle blocker Cimone Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) had a .308 hitting percentage and six kills.
 
Woodard set a strong opening for the Bison, having started the game with a kill and ace. The quick 2-0 lead rapidly turned into a 10-2 advantage, led by McKinnon with four kills and junior setter Leah Reeves' (Allen, Texas) two aces. Errors helped the Hoyas inch closer to the Bison, but the high-flying of McKinnon and fellow outside hitter Dami Awojobi (Hempstead, N.Y.) proved to be difficult for the crosstown competitor to overcome. After consecutive Hoya errors, Woodard closed out the frame how she started, claiming the first set for the Bison, 25-16.
 
A more evenly matched second set saw seven ties before a 5-0 run from the Bison forced the Hoyas to regroup, 14-9. Four straight kills balanced the board, yet again, 15-15, but Georgetown's surge would soon fade as the Bison capitalized off the Hoyas' miscues for a slight 19-17 advantage. Errors would tie the board for the final time, 20-20, before sophomore setter Sydnei Jones (Bridgeville, Pa.) set the Bison up for success with passes to both Woodard and McKinnon for the final points, 25-23.
 
DMV native sophomore libero Gabby Allen (Laurel, Md.) gave the Bison the needed push early on in set three with back-to-back aces, producing a 9-7 lead. Fighting to stay in the game, Georgetown kept the score close capitalizing off of single kills after service errors. Awojobi would break up the short run with a kill, assisted by Jones, before three errors forced match point. With an assist from third-year setter Claire Simpson (Plainfield, Ill.), McKinnon closed out the set, 25-17, and match for the 3-0 sweep.
 
Senior Maya Gerlach (Philadelphia) dominated with a game-high six blocks while Simpson protected the floor, registering 14 digs.
 
Giselle Williams and Dionna Mitchell led the Hoyas attack, racking up seven kills apiece in the loss.
 
On Sept. 5-7, the Bison return to action when they kick off their trip to Texas for the Molly Howard-Gerwig Memorial Tournament, hosted by Houston Christian.
 
For more information visit the official Howard Athletics website at www.hubison.com.