PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – With a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 29-27) win over Florida A&M on Sunday in the W.P. Hytche Athletic Center, Howard claimed the 2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championship.

It was Howard’s third straight title, following the Bison’s fourth straight championship match appearance.

Khaila Donaldson, who had nine kills and nine digs, was named the tournament’s Outstanding Performer. But on Sunday, it was Jessica Young leading the way, after she racked up 17 kills on a .424 hitting percentage.

Young was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

“Every one is different,” Bison head coach Shaun Kupferberg, the tournament’s Outstanding Coach, said. “Every one has different feelings attached to it. This one was a struggle, this one was probably the hardest. We had a long year, we had a lot of injuries, a lot of new players … it was chaos trying to put it all together.”

Howard (16-15) was trailing near the midway point of the first set, as FAMU was up 13-9. But the Bison chipped away at that lead, using a 9-4 spurt to take an 18-17 lead after an ace from Carlise Cardoza. FAMU tied the set again on the next point, but Howard maintained control before ultimately winning the frame 25-22.

The second set was tight early, and Maria Yvette Garcia tied the set at 6-6 with a kill. Howard responded with a 5-1 push to go up 11-7 after Young and Olubunmi Okunade paired on a block. From that point on, the Lady Rattlers couldn’t get closer than within two and after two sets, Howard was up 2-0.

FAMU led throughout much of the third, up 12-7 at one point. But again, the bison slowly chipped away at that lead. Nicole Abreu’s kill gave FAMU breathing room at 21-18, but the Bison answered with a 5-2 spurt to tie the set at 23-23 on a Jurnee Tipton kill.

There were four more ties, the last at 27-27, before a Young kill and an Abreu error clinched the title.

“It’s amazing because this is my last one,” Donaldson said. “I’m a senior and this is my last one, and we have a new team who’s never been here before, so there’s a lot of emotions, a lot of tears – happy tears, thank God – it’s just overwhelming.”

Abreu led the Lady Rattlers (15-12) with 14 kills. Candelaria Herrera added 11 kills.

 

2017 All-Tournament Team
Reeana Richardson, Hampton
Iva Vujosevic, Maryland Eastern Shore
Maria Yvette Garcia, Florida A&M
Nicole Abreu, Florida A&M
Kira Porter, Howard
Jessica Young, Howard
Khaila Donaldson, Howard 

Outstanding Performer: Khaila Donaldson, Howard
Outstanding Coach: Shaun Kupferberg, Howard