Box Score


WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 27, 2023 – Howard volleyball bounced back from a 2-0 deficit, claiming its second victory of the season in a thrilling five-set match against George Mason Sunday afternoon.
 
The third matchup of the weekend marked the end of the DC Invitational, where the Bison went 2-1.
 
Reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year sophomore standout Rya McKinnon led the comeback, producing a program record-setting 30 kills on the afternoon. The 12-year-old record, 28, was previously held by nationally ranked All-MEAC standout Tosin Elebute.
 
Errors would cost the Bison greatly in the first set, giving up nine points to the Patriots. HU began to gain momentum towards the end of the game, but the push would fall short, 25-20.
 
Mason continued their charge into the second set, grabbing an early lead. Their offense began to falter slightly, allowing attack errors to give the Bison their first lead of the set, 6-3. Throughout the back-and-forth, the score evened nine times before George Mason found their way to another 25-20 win.
 
Ready to bounce back, McKinnon opened the Bison's last chance with two kills and sent over two more for a 4-2 lead. The lead quickly widened to a 9-3 advantage with an uncontested five-point run. With the Patriots running on fumes, an explosive six-point run from the Bison put them up 20-8. Howard sent four more kills for set point before an attack error from the Patriots finished out the game, 25-14.
 
Building off the momentum, HU charged full steam ahead to a 7-3 lead. In a similar fashion to earlier sets, the Patriots gradually evened the score, balancing the board three times before the Bison found their pace. After multiple lead changes, a steady kill-attack error combo inched the Bison forward to set point. The Patriots only down three, 24-21, reverted to subs in hopes of closing the gap but it proved futile as junior outside hitter Bria Woodard pounded the final kill for the point.
 
With it all on the line, Mason pulled out to a 7-3 lead. The fast-moving plays came with errors that soon saw the Bison catch up, 8-7. A kill by sophomore Claire Simpson evened the board, 11-11, before the teams would go back-and-forth point for point. The alternating lead made for thrilling final moments as it was anyone's game.
 
At set match (George Mason), Bison fans exploded as an attack error from the Patriots forced the set into extra points, 14-13. First-year middle blocker Kaitlynn Robinson tied the score, 14-14, with a powerful kill too much for the competition before blocking the Patriots with McKinnon for a 15-14 lead. In a gripping rally for the win, the frontline duo closed the thriller with another big block, breaking out into glee and relief.
 
Reigning MEAC Co-Setter of the Year Kayla Diaz flirted with a double-double (48 assists, nine digs) while Simpson finished with 24 digs in the win.
 
For Mason, Nani Spaar recorded a double-double (15 digs and 12 kills) in the loss.