Softball | 2/5/2026 7:02:00 PM

WASHINGTON (February 5, 2026) - It should come as no surprise that the Howard University softball team is favorite to win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) again.
 
Despite the fact that the Bison lost a number of key performers from last season's team, which racked up a 31-20 overall record (19-1 MEAC), a MEAC regular season championship, a conference tournament title and trip to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four seasons.
 
There is no secret. Under the leadership of head coach Tori Tyson, who is now entering her eighth season at the helm, no program in the history of Howard softball has experienced as much success.
 
In 2018, Tyson was hired and inherited a team of 19 freshmen. She rolled up her sleeves and began to build the program. Before her arrival, the team went 8-37 (6-12 MEAC) and improved to 19-29 (8-7 MEAC) in her first season. And then came the COVID-19 year where the team went 3-21.
 
From there, the program began to take off, posting its first winning season under Tyson at 17-13 (10-9 MEAC) in 2021. The following year, Howard posted a 31-24 record, including 17-4 in MEAC play.
 
In 2023, the program took a bit of a slide, going 20-26 (10-9 MEAC) before posting back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time in school history (2024 &2025).
 
Under Tyson, the program has become a perennial power in the MEAC and potential NCAA qualifier.
 
"When I accepted the job at Howard, there were some challenging times," recalled Tyson. "It was not easy and I had other offers but there was something about Howard that felt just right."
 
Tyson admits that there were times of doubt when she inherited a team that had 19 freshmen. But it did not discourage Tyson, who has never been accused of lacking in self-confidence.
 
Moreover, in her attempt to build the program to respectability, COVID-19 struck and temporarily put things on hold. From there, the ascendancy has exceeded everyone's expectation.
 
Since Tyson's initial year, things have changed dramatically with regard to recruiting. The transfer portal and NIL has changed the landscape of how coaches recruit and build programs.
Yet, the resourceful Tyson has quickly adapted and found a way to make it work for the Howard program.
 
"We lost a lot of veteran players who have played a major role in our success over the past three years," said Tyson. "Once I accepted that, I realized that you have to recruit out to make it work. You have to make sure that you recruit and bring in talent that fit."
 
In terms of the transfer portal, Tyson was able to help improve the talent base by adding depth at some of the important positions. She brought in graduate Taylor Ames-Alexander (Lancaster, S.C.), a transfer from South Carolina State (SC State) and the 2025 MEAC Player of the Year. The South Carolina native was the most dominant player in the conference last season, batting .421, hitting eight homers, collecting 14 doubles, four triples and while driving in 43 runs.
 
"Taylor chose Howard to pursue her future," said Tyson of her top recruit. "She recognized things in the (Howard) program that would enable her to get better. She is definitely a major addition."
 
Other transfers who Tyson says will be factors are pitchers Aiko Conaway (Haymarket, Va.), a transfer from Marshall, and senior Destiny Calloway (Evington, VA), another transfer from SC State.
 
"We are really excited about Aiko and Destiny and what they will add to the program, Tyson stated. "One of the things we noticed in our schedule was that it is very important to have your pitcher set the tone and that is something we have addressed."
 
Tyson could not hide her enthusiasm for freshman pitcher Jaidyn Devore (Barnwell, S.C.). 
 
"She has a really bright future," predicted Tyson.
 
Senior Julia Holt (Tucson, Ariz.) provides the veteran leadership in the bullpen and perhaps the most interesting perspective on the team's recent past, present and future.
 
"I remember when I first came here, we were very young," recalled Holt. "We spent a lot of time trying to figure things out. The problem was that there were so many young players that there was no one with the experience to guide us along the way. But since then, we have all grown together. Last year was exciting with what we accomplished but we lost a lot of those veteran players who have been a part of this building process. We have what we call the merging process. We had the opportunity to bring in some very talented and proven transfers, along with some of the players who have been a part of this success and we have some talented young freshmen who will contribute and help continue this success."
 
Last season, Holt made the 2025 All-MEAC First Team after producing 94 Ks in 113.0 innings of work. Before the year, the Arizona native was selected MEAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
 
"Julia had a great sophomore season but she was hit hard last year," said Tyson. "This is her senior year and I feel that the experience grew her."
 
In addition to the pitching, Tyson is excited about the return of veteran catcher junior Merci Hart (Los Angeles), sophomore infielder Lauryn Jones (Denton, Texas), junior utility player Angel Riggins (San Diego) and senior outfielder Maryn Jordan (San Diego).
 
As for the schedule, the Bison had a very challenging nonconference schedule last year that included nationally ranked teams like Duke, Nebraska and UCLA. This year's schedule is equally challenging, playing in five tournaments before opening MEAC play. They will take on LSU and Michigan State, along with a number of HBCUs and mid-major opponents.
 
"We learned a lot from last year's schedule," noted Tyson. "It is our hope that we can use that experience to get us to the next level and be better prepared if we make it to the NCAA Tournament."
 
Off the field, Howard Athletics is having one of its best runs in terms of academic accomplishment in recent memory. This season, Howard had students who received high academic recognition and the softball team had eight members named to the MEAC All-Academic team.
 
"We are in a great position here at Howard when it comes to recruiting," noted Tyson. "It is easy to sell because the brand is well known. When it comes to the softball program, it comes down to what HU can do for you as a woman."
 
Tyson could have been referring to Holt, who could easily serve as a poster child for the program.
 
"When I first came to Howard," I was considered shy," confessed Holt, who was named to the MEAC All-Academic Team. "There were only five Blacks at the high school that I attended. Initially coming to Howard was a big cultural shock for me. I was one of those students who would not speak up or present myself as I should. But by being in the culture here at Howard, I got a lot of support and encouragement from everyone at the University. Now that I look back, it made me the woman that I am."
 
Holt is history major and she plans to pursue a PHD and ultimately became a curator.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.