After entering the weekend looking to gain ground in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) standings, the Howard University women’s volleyball team came up short in two conference contests, falling to Coppin State University on Oct. 23 before dropping a hard-fought five-set match to Morgan State University on Sunday, Oct. 25.
The Bison opened the weekend on Friday in Baltimore, where they fell to Coppin State 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-20). Howard nearly stole the opening set after pushing the Eagles to the brink, but Coppin State closed out and maintained control through the final two sets.
Sophomore setter Alexys James led the Bison attack with 10 kills and 13 assists for a double-double effort. Freshman outside hitter Addison Buckner contributed seven kills, senior setter Sydnei Jones directed the offense with 14 assists and 11 digs and senior middle blocker Zenai Jethroe anchored the front row with five total blocks.
Howard kept the first set competitive and trailed by only two points at the finish; however, Coppin State controlled play at the net throughout the evening. The Eagles finished with a 10-7 advantage in blocks and benefited from 11 kills by sophomore middle hitter Rori Gray, helping hand the Bison their second conference loss of the season.
“We know we have to minimize our errors when we play, but when we are up with high energy, we can’t take the foot off the gas,” said James, a biology major from Houston. “We have to show who we are earlier rather than waiting to fight hard and win.”
Howard closed the weekend with a five-set battle against Morgan State on Sunday at John H. Burr Gymnasium. The Bison nearly completed a reverse sweep, rallying from a two-set deficit before ultimately falling to Morgan State, 3-2 (25-20, 25-22, 24-26, 29-31, 15-6).
After dropping the opening two sets, the Bison appeared headed toward another straight-set defeat. Instead, Howard bounced back with a strong effort after the second-set break. Facing elimination in the third set, the Bison outlasted Morgan State 26-24 before surviving another contested frame in the fourth, earning a 31-29 victory to even the match at two sets.
Howard’s offense came alive during the comeback effort, recording 20 kills in both the third and fourth sets after totaling 27 kills across the opening two sets. The Bison finished the match with 71 kills, 71 assists and 74 digs, all surpassing Morgan State’s totals in those categories.
Buckner led Howard’s attack with a match-high 24 kills while adding 12 digs. Jethroe contributed 15 kills, and James recorded a double-double with nine kills, 36 assists and 10 digs. Defensively, Camryn Shelton anchored the back row with a match-high 31 digs.
For Howard, the rally from a two-set deficit provided more than just a chance to win the match. It reinforced the belief that the Bison possess the talent to compete with anyone in the conference when they play with confidence from the opening serve.
“The 0-2 set comeback showed us that we have what it takes to play with these teams,” said Buckner, a human performance major from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. “It’s just a matter of making the decision when to fight rather than waiting until we have to.”
The match came down to the fifth set, where Morgan State regained control and pulled away for a 15-6 victory, ending Howard’s comeback attempt. Despite the loss, Howard showed considerable fight after falling behind 2-0, winning consecutive elimination sets and pushing one of its conference rivals to the brink before ultimately coming up short.
“Essentially, we know the match isn’t over until it’s over. It’s a new set, a new opportunity to take control,” said Assistant Coach Deja Moorer. “The plan doesn’t change; we’re going to continue to stay aggressive; our goal is to get more consistent, but we still have our eyes on the MEAC Championship.”
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
