Washington, DC (Oct. 26, 2021) --- The Delaware State volleyball team's school-record win streak has ended at 16 with a 3-0 loss to Howard in a MEAC contest at Burr Gymnasium this evening. The Bison won 25-20, 25-18 and 25-23 to also hand the Hornets their first MEAC loss of the season (8-1).
Delaware State, playing its first match since a 3-0 win over Coppin State on Nov. 17, fell for just the second time this season (20-2) and first since a 3-1 loss at St. Francis on Sep. 4 in Lorreto, Pa.
DSU's 16-match win streak was the third longest among all NCAA teams this season, trailing only Louisville (20-0) and Texas (17-0).
The Bison won their fourth straight match to improve to 10-11 overall and 7-2 in the MEAC.
Jennifer Bolden and Cimone Woodard led Howard with eight kills each. Bolden had a .462 hitting percentage in the match.
Alondra Maldonado was tops on the Hornets with a match-high nine kills, while Valeria Otero tallied eight.
DSU's  Malgorzata Andersohn led all players with 23 assists. Jasmal Cruz was tops on the Hornets with nine digs.
Delaware State never led in the first set, although there were two ties.
Howard led 13-12 in the opening set before scoring six of the next eight points to open up a 19-14 advantage. The Hornets pulled to within 22-20 after a kill by Kelsie Dawson, but the Bison scored the final three points to close out the set, snapping DSU's streak off 22 consecutive set wins.
The Hornets started quickly in the second set, scoring the first five points. Karen Cordero opened the set with an ace and Otero recorded a kill during the run. Howard rebounded by scoring nine of the next 12 points, and opened up a 9-8 lead on a kill by Kayla Diaz.
DSU fought back, regaining the lead  13-12 on a winner by Maldonado. The Hornets led 15-13 in set two before Howard scored the next five points to take control for good.
The third set was tightly played until Howard opened up a 22-17 lead. The Bison was a point away from the set and match win after a kill by Bolden stretched the lead to 24-20.
The Hornets refused to go down quietly, scoring the next three points to stay alive. DSU pulled to within 24-23 on another kill by Maldonado, but the Bison sealed the win on a winner by Tamar Wells on the next point.
Delaware State had a season-low .093 hitting percentage in the match, recording 36 kills and 26 errors on 107 attacks.
Howard had 34 kills and just 11 errors on 85 attempts for a .271 hitting percentage, tops for a DSU opponent this season.
The Hornets were tops among NCAA Div. I teams with a .098 opponents hitting percentage entering tonight's match.    
Delaware State will look to begin a new streak in their next contest this Friday (Oct. 29) at North Carolina Central. The Hornets will also visit South Carolina State on Sunday (Oct. 31) before returning home to face Morgan State on Nov. 5, DSU's final Memorial Hall appearance of the season.