Three Patriots posted seven or more kills in Friday night's closely contested 3-1 loss (21-25; 27-29; 25-18; 21-25)  to Howard on day one of the D.C. Volleyball Challenge at American University.

Junior Morghan Martin led the Patriots on the day with nine kills and a team-leading 15 digs while sophomore Jessie Greensalde and junior Lolade Owokoniran paced the offense with 10 and nine kills respectively. Khaila Donaldson led the Bison with 21 kills in addition to 15 digs.  

Mason fell behind early in the first set before tying things up at 11-11 behind the play of Meredith Bush who contributed three kills and four total points in the set. The set would be tied three more times before the Bison would close out the game behind a kill from Katherine Broussard. Khalia Donaldson led the way for Howard with just over four points in the opening set.

The second set was a back and forth affair from the start with two lead changes and 15 ties. Greensalde and  Owokoniran led the Patriots offensively with five and four kills respectively. Greenslade contributed a set-high six points to the effort as Mason pushed the Bison but Howard would outlast the Patriots to take the set 29-27.

The third set looked like much of the same before the Patriots took a 3-2 lead that would hold behind four and a half points from Martin who had four kills on the set. Mason would take the set 25-18 in the quickest game of the night.

The Patriots once against kept it close in the fourth set be fourth, with Owokoniran and Greenslade accounting for three points each. However, it was not enough to overcome the Bison who would combine for 13 kills on their way to a 25-21 set win.