WASHINGTON (September 17, 2026) — Howard University volleyball (1-9) battled Georgetown University (7-3) Thursday evening at Burr Gymnasium but fell to the Hoyas in straight sets (26-24, 25-11, 25-19).
Howard opened the night with an early 2-0 advantage, following a kill from freshman
Addison Buckner (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) and a bad set by Georgetown. After the Hoyas answered to tie the set, the Bison regained a 5-4 lead before the teams traded points to a 7-7 deadlock. Georgetown used a 6-2 stretch to build a 13-9 advantage, but Howard responded with three straight points.
Alexys James (Houston) delivered a service ace before another Georgetown error cut the deficit to one, 13-12. The Hoyas pushed ahead, 15-13, but Howard continued to answer with
Haarachi Umenwaliri (Chapel Hill, N.C.) recording a kill to bring the Bison within one, 16-15. The teams continued trading points down the stretch. Georgetown led, 20-18, before Howard pulled again within one, 20-19. The Hoyas extended the margin, 23-20, but the Bison refused to go away. Buckner recorded a kill to make it 23-21,
Zenai Jethroe (Dallas) followed with another point and a Georgetown attack error brought Howard even, 24-24. Georgetown; however, scored the final two points to take the opening set, 26-24.
The Hoyas carried the momentum into the second set, taking an early 3-1 lead. Buckner answered with a kill and Howard remained within striking distance, 6-4, before Georgetown opened a decisive stretch. The Hoyas scored eight-of-the-next nine points to take a 14-6 advantage. The Bison responded with kills from Buckner and Umenwaliri to make it 14-7, but the Hoyas continued to apply pressure at the net. Georgetown pushed its lead to 17-7 before Howard earned points from an
Estrella Vazquez (Baton Rouge, La.) service error by Georgetown and a service error from the Hoyas. Buckner continued to provide offensive production for the Bison, recording another kill to make it 21-10 while she and Jethroe added points late in the frame. Georgetown closed the set on a 4-1 run to take the second, 25-11.
Howard came out with renewed energy in the third set, but Georgetown again established an early advantage. The Hoyas opened with a 3-0 lead before
Corinne Howard (Derwood, Md.) put the Bison on the board with a kill from James. Georgetown moved ahead, 5-1, but Howard battled back behind kills from Howard and
Kennedi Wright (Plano, Texas), along with a Georgetown attack error, to make it 5-3. The Hoyas answered with four straight points to take a 9-4 lead. After the crosstown rival reached a 10-5 advantage, the Bison mounted their strongest charge of the set. James set up Buckner for a kill, Howard added another kill and James then assisted
Lauryn Wiley (Pearland, Texas) on a kill. Wiley followed with another kill before recording an ace, giving Howard five straight points and cutting the deficit, 11-10. Georgetown responded with three consecutive points, but Howard continued to stay within reach. Buckner recorded kills at 11-14 and 12-14 while Jethroe added a kill to bring the Bison within three, 17-14. Howard then used another three-point stretch to pull within two, 18-16, with a block from James and
Tiana Stubbs (Fredericksburg, Va.) contributing to the run. The Bison remained within two points, 19-17, before Georgetown extended its lead, 22-18. Buckner answered with another kill to make it 22-19, but the Hoyas scored the final three points to secure the third set, 25-19, and the 3-0 match victory.
Buckner led the Bison, offensively, with 12 kills on 34 attacks. The freshman also added three block assists and two digs. Jethroe finished with seven kills while James contributed five kills, 16 assists, five digs, one ace and two blocks. Shelton added a team-high seven digs while
Sydnei Jones (Bridgeville, Pa.) recorded nine assists and five digs. James,
Easnadh Nobel To'olo (Orono, Maine) and Umenwaliri each finished with two blocks.
Howard returns to action Saturday, Sept. 19, traveling across town to face George Washington University at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on Howard women's volleyball visit the official Howard Athletics website
www.hubison.com.
