Photo by David Sierra


Box Score | Updated Bracket | Championship Central


WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 20, 2021 – Howard University defeated North Carolina Central 3-1 (25-19, 25-17, 23-25, 25-14) on Saturday in the semifinals of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championship in Burr Gymnasium.
 
The top-seeded Bison will advance to Sunday’s championship match, 8 p.m. live on ESPNU, against either Delaware State or Coppin State. Howard will be making its seventh championship match appearance in the last eight seasons.
 
Howard (16-12) won five straight MEAC titles from 2015-19.
 
Dami Awojobi led the Bison offense with 14 kills, hitting .385 with just four errors, while MEAC Rookie of the Year Bria Woodard added 12 kills, 10 digs and a pair of service aces. Tamar Wells had 11 kills of her own, hitting .500 on 18 swings.
 
The Bison hit .345 as a team, including a match-best .425 clip in the fourth set.
 
Milexa Cardona racked up 47 assists in quarterbacking the Howard offense, two shy of her season high, while Essence Bell was the defensive leader with 14 digs.
 
Having taken the first two sets, the Bison appeared to be in full control, leading 15-11 in the third set after an ace from Banda Busi. But the Eagles mounted a comeback, taking a 19-18 lead after a kill from McKayla Young.
 
Howard then jumped back out front, 22-19, but a 6-1 run from NCCU wrapped up the set and helped the Eagles avoid the sweep.
 
Cimone Woodard’s kill early in the fourth put Howard up 4-1, though the Eagles clawed back to within two, cutting the lead to 8-6. But that was as close as North Carolina Central would get, as Howard jumped out to a 14-7 lead and never looked back.
 
Ammaarah Williams led the Eagles (10-14) with 13 kills.