James’ triple-double cannot save Howard at UMBC

Alexys James filled three columns of the box score Tuesday, but Howard could not turn her triple-double into a sixth consecutive victory. UMBC won the Baltimore volleyball matchup in four sets, leaving the Bison with a clear reminder that individual production and control of a match do not always move together.

Howard lost 23–25, 25–23, 22–25, 21–25. James finished with 24 assists, 12 kills and 11 digs, contributing as a setter, attacker and defender. Zenai Jethroe led Howard with 15 kills and three total blocks, while Addison Buckner added 11 kills. Camryn Shelton produced a match-high 29 digs, and Sydnei Jones paired 21 assists with 11 digs.

Those performances kept Howard competitive throughout a match in which none of the four sets was decided by more than four points. The Bison’s second-set response was particularly effective: they registered 19 kills and hit .302, their best attacking percentage of the evening, to level the match. It created an opportunity to make the final two sets the deciding contest rather than allowing the opening loss to dictate the result.

UMBC won both of those closing sets. Hannah Dobbs supplied 25 kills for the Retrievers, while Isabel Ostvig recorded 44 assists and 12 digs. That gave the home side a substantial attacking outlet and steady distribution even as Howard’s defense extended rallies.

The overall percentages offer useful perspective. Howard hit .215 against UMBC’s .204 and finished with a 69–67 edge in digs. The Bison were not comprehensively outplayed in every statistical category. UMBC, however, led 57–54 in kills and 6–4 in total blocks. Howard also committed 13 service errors to the Retrievers’ nine, giving away points in a match built from narrow set margins.

Howard fell to 6–12 overall, while UMBC improved to 9–5. The loss came outside conference play, so the Bison’s 5–1 MEAC record remains intact. Their next opportunity arrives Thursday, October 15, at Norfolk State, with first serve listed for 6 p.m. Eastern. The task is to carry Tuesday’s shared production into cleaner finishes.