WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Delaware State women's volleyball team opened the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) part of the 2022 season with a 3-1 over the Howard Bison on Friday.
 
Delaware State won the first two sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-22 heading into the possible decisive third set. Howard would not go away quietly and stormed back with a commanding 25-11 win to force another set.
 
The Hornets and Bison battled throughout the fourth set, however, Delaware State would capitalize on a Howard service error and a kill from the reigning MEAC Player of the Week Alondra Maldonado set up by Malgorzata Andersohn to seal a 26-24 set four win to clinch the match.
 
The outside hitting duo of Karen Cordero and Valeria Otero led the Hornets' offensive production with a team-best 14 points each. Cordero landed a team-high 13 kills and one service ace while Otero recorded 12 kills and was in on two assisted blocks.
 
Andersohn (21) and Alayna Lacy (18) combined for 39 of Delaware State's 45 total assists.
 
Defensively, middle blockers Sydney Lewis and Kelsie Dawson combined for 7 of the Hornets' 12 total blocks in the win. Lewis tallied one solo block and two assisted blocks while Dawson got in on four assisted blocks.
 
Howard was led by reigning MEAC Rookie of the Week Rya McKinnon. McKinnon notched a game-high 17 kills and one service ace for a match-best 18 points. Bison senior setter Kayla Diaz tallied a career-high in assists after passing out 54 in the match.
 
Delaware State returns to action on Sunday for another MEAC matchup when Norfolk State makes the trip to Dover. First serve from Memorial Hall is currently scheduled for 3 p.m.