WASHINGTON, D.C. – Howard University posted a season-high 48 kills in a three-set match on the way to securing a 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference home victory over North Carolina Central University on Friday evening.
 
The Bison, who won the MEAC Championship last season, picked up their fourth straight win by set scores of 25-9, 25-11 and 25-23. Howard improved to 10-7 on the season and 3-1 in the league.
 
Sophomore setter Vanila Pulu-Suliafu had one of NCCU's better performances with 13 assists, two kills, two block assists and one service ace with a .333 hitting percentage.
 
A quintet of Eagles had four kills, including junior Abby Vacha and the freshmen trio of Kamren Harper, Tori Wilson and Emmie Modlin. Sophomore libero Loren Johnson topped NCCU with eight digs and sophomore Lejla Viteskic provided three block assists.
 
Howard hit .739 in a dominating first set in which NCCU only had two kills. The Bison maintained control in the second set, but the Eagles attempted to extend the match in the third set. The final frame featured 10 ties, including the maroon and gray tying the set at 23-23 before Howard used back-to-back kills to end the match.
 
Rya McKinnon and Colleen Temple led the victors with 11 and 10 kills, respectively.
 
NC Central (3-14, 2-4) will next play at Norfolk State University on Sunday at 1 p.m.