NORFOLK, Va. (August 20, 2025) – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) revealed its 2025 women's volleyball preseason honors where Howard University was projected to finish first in the league's preseason poll. The announcement came Wednesday morning.
 
HU tallied 116 points with eight first-place votes. A year ago, Howard finished the 2024 season with a 23-6 mark (14-0 MEAC) while winning the MEAC Regular Season crown.
 
Reigning MEAC Tournament Champion Delaware State was picked second after scoring 114 points, including seven first-place votes.
 
Additionally, the conference uncovered its preseason awards where senior outside hitter Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.) was selected MEAC Preseason Player of the Year. Last season, she took home the league's Player of the Year award for the third consecutive season, becoming the first player in league history since 1998. The Alabama native wrapped up her junior campaign topping the conference in kills per set (4.40), which ranks 25th in the nation.
 
Fellow classmates setter Leah Reeves (Allen, Texas) and libero Claire Simpson (Plainfield, Illinois) joined McKinnon on the Preseason All-MEAC Team.
 
Reeves, the 2024 MEAC Setter of the Year, finished the regular season with a conference-leading 8.74 assists per game while Simpson led the league in digs per set (4.15).
 
All awards were voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors.
 
On Aug. 29, HU opens its 2025 campaign versus crosstown rival George Washington inside The Burr. First-serve is slated for 6 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com or the MEAC website at www.MEACSports.com.