HOUSTON (September 7, 2024) – Howard University women's volleyball team closed out the weekend with a five-set victory (25-27, 25-15, 25-20, 20-25, 16-14) over Kansas City (KC) at the Molly Howard-Gerwig Memorial Tournament, hosted by Houston Christian.
 
With the thrilling win, HU moved to 4-2 overall while KC moved to 1-5 on the season.
 
Senior Bria Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) and second-year setter Sydnei Jones (Bridgeville, Pa.) led the way with double-doubles. Woodard notched 11 digs and 10 kills while Jones collected 45 assists and 10 digs.
 
HU grabbed its first lead of the match late in game one, thanks to an ace from two-time Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.), 19-18, but the Roos regained momentum with three unanswered points, 21-19. Both squads went back-and-forth throughout the set, but Kansas City held on to take game one, 27-25.
 
In set two, the Bison led from start-to-finish while eclipsing a .375 hitting percentage; thus, tying the match at one apiece, 1-1.
 
Howard held the upper hand throughout game three despite multiple runs from KC. McKinnon delivered the game-winning kill, 25-20, and gave the Bison a 2-1 match advantage.
 
Kansas City rebounded in set four after registering a scorching .500 hitting percentage, forcing a winner-take-all game five.
 
The deciding set was a seesaw affair with both squads making runs. KC's Sila Ozyurek tied the game at 14 with a kill, but back-to-back kills from McKinnon and reigning MEAC Defensive Player of the Week Dami Awojobi (Hempstead, N.Y.) sealed the victory for HU.
 
McKinnon finished with a team-leading 14 kills, eight digs and three service aces while senior middle blocker Cimone Woodard (Missouri City, Texas) added 13 kills, five total blocks (one solo) and two service aces.
 
Defensively, junior libero Claire Simpson (Plainfield, Ill.) produced match-high 23 digs, followed by Awojobi with 22 digs and a block in the victory.
 
Kaia Dunford led the way for Kansas City, recording a double-double (18 kills & 15 digs) in the loss.
 
Howard faces American University on the road Tuesday (September 10) at 6 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.