WASHINGTON D.C. (Oct. 16th) - The DSU Hornets took it the distance for the fourth time this season, but kept their composure in a tough road environment for a 3-2 victory (25-14, 25-19, 18-25, 19-25, 15-11) over Howard University on Friday night at Burr Gymnasium. 

"Our team played great in the first and second, but we lost our composure there for a bit.  But we gathered it and won in the fifth," said head coach Renee Arnold.  "CJ (Cassandra Joyner) played really well, and she came through when we needed her.  It was a tough match, but a good road win in conference."

The Hornets (12-11, 2-1 MEAC) came out with purpose in the first two sets, hitting .226 for each game while holding the Bison to -.077 and .043 respectively in the first two stanzas.  The 25 kills to just 12 for Howard would seem to intimate a quick victory for the red and blue.

But the third set told a different tale.  With DSU leading 9-5 in the third, a timeout and defensive adjustments by Howard (6-20, 2-1 MEAC) began to shift the momentum.  Eight of the next nine points would be tallied by Howard, carrying them to a .333 percentage and a set victory that flipped the run of play.  The fourth would see it carry forward behind outside hitter Gazelle D'Artois, who would record the only double-double for either team in the match with 15 kills and 10 digs. 

But in the fifth, DSU came back on the strength of All-MEAC performer and senior middle hitter Joyner, who would lead all scorers for DSU with 18 kills on 36 attacks for a .361 hitting percentage, including three crucial tallies in the penultimate set.  Juniors Erica Tajchman and Sarah Wheatcroft each picked up nine kills for the Hornets. 

The Hornets are back in action Sunday at 3 p.m. against Morgan State.  Live stats for the match will be available via DSU Hornets.com