WASHINGTON, D.C. – Howard fifth-year setter Kayla Diaz recorded 34 assists on her senior night, as the Bison (8-11, 4-2 MEAC) took down Norfolk State (5-8, 4-2) in three sets (26-24, 25-18, 25-20) on Friday at Burr Gymnasium.
 
Gabrielle Gilbert led the Spartans with eight kills on 24 attacks, while Shonte Seale added four kills and three service aces.
 
The first set showed the strength in the matchup between the teams, with neither squad able to create separation. NSU and Howard both produced 11 kills in that game, both made six attack errors, and both made four service aces.
 
A service ace by Seale got the Spartans going early on, but a Howard ace just a few minutes later tied the set at four. Trinity Mitchell got in on the action with a successful back-row attack and Grace Smith sent down an emphatic kill during a 6-2 NSU run.
 
With the Spartans ahead 15-12 after a Gilbert kill, Howard strung together three consecutive points to even the set at 15. The teams were tied at 12 different points of the opening game.
 
After overcoming two set points, Howard sophomore Rya McKinnon tallied a kill to put the Bison in the driver's seat, finishing the first set off on the next point, 26-24.
 
NSU junior Alexa Harris recorded four kills on just seven swings in the first game, posting a .571 hitting percentage. An injury moments into the second set, however, forced her to leave the match early.
 
After Harris' departure, the momentum swung heavily Howard's way.  The Bison reeled off a 6-1 run to open the second set, maintaining a strong cushion the rest of the game.
 
The teams went to a back-and-forth battle again in the third set. Adlene Jideofor provided two kills within a few minutes of one another to tie the game at 17, but a 7-1 Bison run shortly after closed things out for the home team.
 
NSU returns to Gill Gymnasium at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15 to face Morgan Staten a rescheduled match originally slated for Oct. 8.