WASHINGTON — Howard 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. Dear opened the scoring with a kill, followed by back-to-back swings from Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.) for a quick 2–0 lead. Norfolk State stayed close, cutting it to 4–3 after two kills and an ace, but the Bison answered with a four-point surge led by McKinnon to go up 8–3. The Spartans clawed back within two at 12–10 before another Howard run, highlighted by consecutive kills from McKinnon and back-to-back aces from MEAC Setter of the Week Leah Reeves (Allen, Texas), widened the gap to 16–10. Norfolk State made another push, closing within three at 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's (Calabasas, Calif.) three service aces. McKinnon added consecutive kills to extend the Bison lead to 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 Claire Simpson (Plainfield, Ill.), McKinnon, and Kaitlynn Robinson (Oklahoma City, Okla.) each added kills to push the margin to 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 to 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 to 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, Dear registered 11 kills, while Wright rounded out the double-digit kills with 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.