WASHINGTON (October 17, 2025) — Howard University volleyball (11-7, 5-2 MEAC) extended its winning ways Friday evening, rolling past Norfolk State (1-19, 0-7 MEAC) in straight sets (25-20, 25-16, 25-21) inside Burr Gymnasium.
 
The Bison offense was in rhythm from start-to-finish, hitting an impressive .361 as three players reached double figures in kills.
 
Howard came out firing in the opening frame, using a balanced attack and steady passing to build momentum early.
 
Kristen Dear (Carson, Calif.) opened the scoring with a kill, followed by back-to-back swings from Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.) for a quick 3-0 lead. Norfolk State stayed close, cutting it to one, 4-3, after two kills and an ace, but the Bison answered with a four-point surge, led by McKinnon, 8-3. The Spartans clawed back within two, 12-10, before another Howard run, highlighted by consecutive kills from McKinnon and back-to-back aces from MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Setter of the Week Leah Reeves (Allen, Texas), widened the gap, 16-10. Norfolk State made another push, closing within three, 22-19, but kills from McKinnon and Alexys James (Houston) secured the 25-20 set victory.
 
Norfolk State struck first in set two, but Howard quickly took control behind a five-point surge, spearheaded by Halie McGinest (Calabasas, Calif.) with three service aces. McKinnon added consecutive kills to extend the Bison lead, 8-3. Junior outside hitter Kennedi Wright (Plano, Texas) took over mid-set with a string of powerful swings that made it 12-5. The Bison attack proved relentless as McKinnon, Claire Simpson (Plainfield, Ill.) and Kaitlynn Robinson (Oklahoma City) each added kills to push the margin to nine, 17-8. Norfolk managed to fend off set point twice, but a Spartan service error sealed Howard's 25-16 win — its most dominant frame of the night.
 
The third set featured tighter play early until James sparked a four-point Bison run for a 9-4 advantage. Three straight Howard kills extended the lead, 12-5, and McGinest again energized the crowd during her rotation with another ace in a 4-0 burst that gave Howard an 18-7 cushion. Norfolk responded with six straight points, including three aces, to cut the deficit, 18-13. After Robinson broke up the surge with a kill, the Spartans kept applying pressure to make it 22-20. The Bison; however, closed the door with consecutive kills from Dear and Wright to take the set, 25-21, and complete the sweep.
 
McGinest highlighted the night, tying her career-high of four service aces for the second time this season.
 
McKinnon led the Bison with a game-high 15 kills, followed by Dear (11 kills) and Wright (10).
 
Reeves directed the offense with a game-high 39 assists while Simpson anchored the back row with 17 digs.
 
Howard controlled nearly every statistical category, finishing with 52 kills to Norfolk State's 27 and holding a .361 to .227 hitting advantage.
 
The Bison also outdug the Spartans, 47-32, doubled them in assists (47-23) and posted 10 service aces to nine, showcasing a complete team effort on both sides of the net.
 
Howard returns to action Thursday, October 23, when they travel to Baltimore to face Coppin State at 6 p.m., in MEAC play.
 
For more information visit the official Howard Athletics website www.hubison.com.