The Bison shut out Norfolk State University at home on Friday, finishing their regular season on a 14-game winning streak.
Seniors took the floor in Burr for the final time with a chance to eclipse 2015’s mark of 13 straight wins, which was punctuated with a MEAC championship title. Before the game, Howard honored the volleyball team managers and two star players for reaching career milestones. Junior hitter Rya McKinnon was honored for reaching 1,000 kills, while her classmate, libero Claire Simpson, was highlighted for eclipsing 1,000 digs.
“I feel like this is a very powerful game since they’re celebrating many milestones,” said Malahni Sengstacke, a Howard student and Bison volleyball follower.
The Bison were not derailed by the pregame celebrations. They won the first set 25-19 and the next two by even wider margins, 25-18 and 25-17. While the team has enjoyed success during each match, they attribute their winning habits to a trait developed in practice: accountability.
“We have high-intensity practices and make sure we hold each other accountable,” Dami Awojobi, a senior right hitter, said.
Bailey Hollis, a freshman setter, attributed the dominant run of the Bison to their character as well.
“It’s the accountability that we hold for each other,” she said.
The team’s confidence has poured into supporters, with fans expecting a win each time the Bison take the court.
“They definitely will win. We’re number one in our conference,” Ashura Langford, a Howard Volleyball Club member, said.
Sengstacke highlighted a different intangible quality as the catalyst for the Bison’s recent success.
“[They] go in with the intent to understand [their] opponents,” she said.
Coinciding with the unblemished 14-game run, was the implementation of new practices introduced by Howard volleyball to prepare for games. Assistant Coach and Offensive Coordinator Phil Evans detailed the new approach, which prioritizes rest and mental health for the student-athletes.
“We’re late in the season, so there’s rest and working very hard. We give them time to reset, and we’re really big on their mental and physical capacity,” Evans said.
He said the student-athletes get multiple days off to ensure adequate rest and prioritize their mental state, emphasizing that the winning streak is not the end goal.
“The job is not done,” he said.
The MEAC tournament awaits the Bison, and should the tournament, which begins Nov. 22 in Dover, Delaware, see the winning streak continue, the Bison will be primed for an NCAA tournament berth.
Copy edited by Jalyn Lovelady
