WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 11, 2026) — The South Carolina State women's volleyball team displayed determination and resilience Sunday afternoon, battling Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponent Howard before falling 3-1 (16-25, 14-25, 25-22, 13-25) inside Burr Gymnasium.
Despite the setback, the Lady Bulldogs (4-17 overall, 0-6 MEAC) showed encouraging moments, highlighted by an impressive third-set victory that demonstrated their ability to compete against one of the conference's stronger teams.
Howard improved to 6-11 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
After dropping the opening two sets, SC State responded with renewed energy in the third frame, using aggressive serving, timely defensive plays and improved offensive execution to secure a 25-22 victory.
The Lady Bulldogs recorded four service aces in the third set while holding Howard to a .310 hitting percentage, compared with the Bison's .591 mark in the second set.
SC State's strongest stretch came midway through the third set when the Lady Bulldogs extended their advantage to 20-15. Howard attempted to rally, but SC State maintained its composure down the stretch to capture the set and extend the match.
Carra Pierre-Louis led the Lady Bulldogs offensively with seven kills, while
Kenna Harris and Amani Hawkins contributed six kills apiece. Hawkins finished with a team-best .263 hitting percentage among SC State players with at least 10 attempts.
Arianna James directed the offense with a team-high 15 assists, while
Macey McCoy added 10 assists and one service ace.
Defensively, libero
Ki'ra Wright anchored the Lady Bulldogs with a team-high 12 digs.
Jordan Dalland contributed five digs and two service aces.
SC State finished with five service aces, six team blocks and 32 assists. The Lady Bulldogs also recorded 32 kills in the four-set contest.
Howard was led by Addison Buckner, who finished with a match-high 15 kills, while Zenai Jethroe added 11. The Bison recorded 61 kills and finished with a .386 hitting percentage.
Although Howard regained control in the fourth set to secure the conference victory, SC State's third-set performance provided a positive takeaway as the Lady Bulldogs continue working toward improvement during MEAC competition.
SC State Statistical Leaders
- Carra Pierre-Louis: 7 kills, 2 digs
- Kenna Harris: 6 kills, 1 block assist
- Amani Hawkins: 6 kills, .263 hitting percentage, 3 digs
- De'Oni McPhearson: 4 kills, 1 solo block, 3 block assists
- Arianna James: 15 assists, 3 digs
- Macey McCoy: 10 assists, 1 service ace
- Ki'ra Wright: 12 digs, 3 assists
- Jordan Dalland: 2 service aces, 5 digs
- Jade Robinson: 3 kills, 2 service aces, 2 block assists
Match Highlights
- SC State captured the third set 25-22 after trailing 2-0 in the match.
- The Lady Bulldogs recorded four service aces during their third-set victory.
- SC State posted its best hitting percentage of the match (.211) in the third set.
- The Lady Bulldogs finished with six team blocks.
- SC State recorded five service aces compared with Howard's three.
- The third set featured 11 ties and three lead changes.
By the Numbers
| Category |
SC State |
Howard |
| Kills |
32 |
61 |
| Assists |
32 |
53 |
| Service aces |
5 |
3 |
| Digs |
32 |
40 |
| Team blocks |
6 |
7 |
| Hitting percentage |
.037 |
.386 |
Up Next
The Lady Bulldogs will look to build on their competitive third-set performance as they continue MEAC play.
For additional information on SC State women's volleyball, including upcoming matches, schedules and results, visit
www.scsuathletics.com.
— SC STATE ATHLETICS —
