Volleyball | 11/12/2025 9:55:00 PM

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Howard volleyball dropped a five-set battle on the road to Temple University (22–25, 25–19, 16–25, 18–25, 11–15) Wednesday evening inside McGonigle Hall. The non-conference matchup marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs. With the result, Howard moved to 15–10 overall (9–4 MEAC), while the Owls improved to 16–13 (5–9 AAC).

Howard opened the match with energy, as Rya McKinnon (Hoover, Ala.) and Kristen Dear (Carson, Calif.) combined for a block on the first point of the night. After trading early rallies, Temple used a four-point run to pull ahead 7–5 and later extended the lead 12–8. A block-kill combo from Zenai Jethroe (Dallas, Texas) helped bring the Bison back within two at 14–12. Howard went on an uninterrupted six-point run, sparked by reigning Setter of the Week Leah Reeves (Allen, Texas), to surge ahead 18–17. The Owls momentarily regained the lead, but the Bison closed strong behind Alexys James' final service rotation, sealing the 25–22 opening-set win.

The second set saw Howard carry its momentum early, taking control after a steady start. A service turn from Gabby Allen (Laurel , Md.), highlighted by an ace, fueled a mid-set push that gave the Bison a 15–8 advantage. McKinnon and Dear continued to find success at the net, while Reeves distributed the offense efficiently. Howard held off a late Temple charge to claim the set 25–19 and take a 2–0 match lead.

Temple responded in the third, jumping ahead early while capitalizing on Bison miscues, 7-6. Howard stayed close behind with kills from McKinnon and James, but the Owls strung together multiple runs to take control midway through the frame, 14-9. Despite a service ace from Kennedi Wright (Plano, Texas) and strong defensive efforts from Claire Simpson (Plainfield, Ill.), the Owls took the third set 25–16.

Howard came out firing in the fourth, opening with a 9–4 lead behind Reeves' service ace and kills from McKinnon and Dear. The Owls responded with a 10-2 run to even the board 10-10 before widening the gap 13-10. The Bison battled to stay within striking distance, highlighted by kills from James and Wright, but Temple closed out the set 25–18 to even the match at two sets apiece.

The decisive fifth frame featured back-and-forth action throughout. McKinnon, Dear, and James each notched early kills to keep Howard even through 7–7. The Owls managed to string together a late surge, pulling away after a break to take the final set 15–11 and secure the match.

McKinnon led all players with 21 kills, adding 12 digs and four blocks. James followed with 16 kills and 10 digs, while Wright added eight kills. Reeves tallied a match-and-season-high 57 assists, two aces, and seven digs. Dear, the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week added eight kills and three blocks, while Simpson anchored the defense with a team-best 15 digs.

Howard finished with 62 kills, 59 assists, and six aces, hitting .234 as a team while holding a narrow edge in total points (77–74). Temple recorded 53 kills, 48 assists, and eight aces, hitting .229 overall in the matchup.

Howard closes the regular season on the road Thursday, Nov. 14, when they face Norfolk State at 6 p.m. in Norfolk, Va.

For more information on Howard volleyball, visit www.hubison.com.