HOUSTON (September 6, 2024) - Howard University volleyball dropped its first match in the Lone Star State Friday afternoon. The 3-1 (22-25, 24-26, 25-23, 15-25) loss to New Mexico (UNM) dropped the Bison to a 3-2 record while the Lobos move to 4-1.
 
The Bison got off to a 6-2 lead, highlighted by senior Dami Awojobi's (Hempstead, N.Y.) kill and back-to-back aces. The Bison maintained the lead as the Lobos inched closer, closing the gap, 11-9. A five-point charge would give UNM a slight advantage, 18-17. Service errors lifted the Bison before balancing the board, 20-20. A kill from sophomore Kaitlyn Robinson (Oklahoma City), followed by a block from Cimone Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) boosted the Bison, 22-20. Another unanswered run closed out the set, 25-22, in favor of the Lobos.
 
HU broke out to a 4-0 advantage in the second frame. Aces from Leah Reeves (Allen, Texas) and consecutive kills from Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.) extended the lead, 11-5. The Lobos cut the deficit, 12-10, capitalizing off a 5-1 run, led by Lauryn Payne. HU maintained the lead until New Mexico's short four-point charge leveled the playing field, 19-19. Errors would lift the Bison once again, 24-22, but three straight kills from New Mexico's Kialah Jefferson would hand the Lobos set two, 26-24.
 
Fighting to force a fourth set, the Bison were first on the board for the third consecutive frame. The two teams quickly jumped out to a 4-4 tie before exchanging the lead with four-point runs, 11-9, in favor of the Lobos. HU would level the board for the fifth time, 13-13, before a 6-2 run, led by Awojobi, gave the Bison a 22-19 lead. With their first set point in view, McKinnon posted two more kills in the set to keep the match alive, 25-23.
 
The Lobos opened the scoring in the final frame but back-to-back kills from Robinson soon gave HU a slight edge, 5-3. Keeping the score close, fans witness eight ties through the first 13 points. In the longest run of the match, New Mexico scored nine unanswered points, closing the set, 25-15, and match, 3-1.
 
The Bison close out their trip to Texas Saturday, September 7 when they face Kansas City at 10 a.m. (ET).
 
For more information visit the official Howard Athletics website www.hubison.com.