CLEMSON, S.C. – The Norfolk State volleyball team put together a pair strong showings against Georgetown and Charleston Southern but came up short in both matches at the Big Orange Bash on Friday. The Spartans dropped to 0-11 with the two losses, while Georgetown improved to 6-5 and Charleston Southern moved to 6-4.

GAME 1: Georgetown 3, Norfolk State 2
Norfolk State and Georgetown traded points early in the opening set before the Spartans built an 11-8 lead on a kill from Gabrielle Gilbert. The Hoyas responded with a 7-1 run to go ahead 15-12. NSU tied the set at 19-19 with a kill from Isis Castille, but Georgetown closed on a 6-1 run to take the frame 25-20.

The Spartans answered in the second set, breaking a 6-6 tie with a 5-1 run capped by an Ava Berry kill. The Hoyas rallied and took an 18-17 lead on an ace, but NSU strung together a 5-0 run to pull ahead 22-18. Georgetown tied it at 24-all, before back-to-back Gilbert kills gave Norfolk State the 28-26 win, evening the match at one set apiece.

NSU carried momentum into the third set, grabbing an 11-8 lead behind kills from Castille and Berry. A Jala Dixon kill extended the advantage to 19-13, and the Spartans pulled away late for a 25-20 win.

Georgetown answered in the fourth, jumping out to a 10-4 lead and later extending it to 17-10. Norfolk State trimmed the deficit to four with kills from Gilbert and a block by Berry, but the Hoyas finished on a 5-0 run to even the match with a 25-16 victory.
The Hoyas controlled the decisive fifth set, starting with a 5-3 lead and closing on a 9-2 run to win 15-6 and take the match.

Gilbert led NSU with 14 kills, while Castille added 10. Maya Wood tallied three aces, and Berry paced the defense with seven blocks. Castille added five blocks. Setter Sydney McCree handed out 29 assists, while Mary Nahinu (22) and Gilbert (10) each reached double figures in digs.
 
GAME 2: Charleston Southern 3, Norfolk State 0
Charleston Southern opened with a 4-1 lead before NSU rallied to go ahead 7-5. The Buccaneers regained control late, finishing on a 9-4 run to take the first set 25-19.

The Spartans struck first in the second set on a Reagan Chisholm kill, but CSU responded with an 8-1 run to build a 12-6 advantage. Norfolk State tried to rally with three straight kills from Catori Crawford, but the Buccaneers held on for a 25-18 win.

Charleston Southern pushed ahead 10-7 in the third set and led 15-11 before NSU tied it at 19-19 with back-to-back kills from Gilbert and Mina Faw. Norfolk State went up 23-22 late, but the Buccaneers closed with three straight points to seal the 25-23 win and the sweep.

Gilbert led NSU with 10 kills, while McCree posted 21 assists and 10 digs. Jasmine Mataira added five aces.
 
UP NEXT
Norfolk State closes play at the Big Orange Bash on Saturday at 11 a.m. against host Clemson.