WASHINGTON — Howard women's volleyball marked their fourth sweep of the season, defeating High Point in straight sets (3‑0) at Burr Gymnasium on Thursday night. The Bison improved their record to 6‑3 (0‑0 MEAC) with set scores of 25‑22, 25‑17, 25‑20. High Point falls to 2‑7 (0‑0 Big South).

The match opened with a back-and-forth battle as both teams looked to establish rhythm. High Point jumped out early with a 4-2 lead, but the Bison quickly equalized behind a pair of kills from Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.), who led all scorers with 16 kills on the night. A service ace from Kaitlynn Robinson (Oklahoma, Ok) gave Howard its first lead at 7-6, and the Bison edged ahead later thanks to strong blocking and fast kills. Neither team led by more than two points until late in the set. Zenai Jethroe (Dallas, Texas) and Robinson's blocking slowed High Point's hitters. As the first set reached 21-21, Jethroe stuffed an attack at the net, sparking a 3-0 run and shifting momentum. McKinnon then ended the opening set with a cross-court kill, sealing it 25-22.

Howard came out sharper in the second frame, racing to a 5-2 lead highlighted by one of Halie McGinest's (Calabasas, Calif.) three game-high service aces. High Point regained the lead 8-7 before igniting a five-point surge for a 13-9 advantage. Howard retaliated with seven uninterrupted points to gain the upper hand 16-13. The Panthers managed three more kills before the Bison closed it out with another seven-point charge. The set ended with a misfire from the Panthers, giving Howard a comfortable 25-17 win.

High Point tried to mount a comeback in set three, keeping the game competitive in the early stages. But Howard maintained control, leaning on its blocking and strong output from its leading attackers. Jethroe continued her strong play with a pair of kills and a solo block during HU's nine-point run, stretching the lead to 16-6. The Panthers fought back with an unexpected eight-point push. Avoiding letting the Panthers gain any more serious momentum, Howard regained their composure, inching their way to set point before Alexys James (Atlanta) closed it out with an ace to win the set 25‑20 for the sweep.

McKinnon was the offensive engine for Howard, finishing with a game-high 16 kills. Zenai Jethroe was also a force on the floor, contributing 9 kills and adding a strong blocking presence (five blocks). Kaitlynn Robinson added a solid performance at the net with five blocks to help stymie High Point attacks. Adding to the defense, Aziah Buckner (Memphis, Tenn.) added 10 digs to her season stats.

The Bison return to action on Saturday, September 20th at 2 P.M. when they face UMBC in Maryland.

For more information, visit the official Howard Athletics website at www.hubison.com.