NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk State volleyball team opens the 2008 season on Friday in the Wake Forest Deacon Invitational, which features Davidson, Winthrop, and host Wake Forest. The Spartans open with Winthrop at 4:30 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, NSU takes on Wake Forest at 12:30 p.m. and Davidson at 4:30 p.m.
Fans interested in following this weekend's games can access live stats by clicking here and accessing on the Gametracker link to the right of the page.
In 2007, head volleyball coach Jennifer Fry and her team overcame several obstacles to make the year a memorable one. Despite the team's 7-26 overall record and other challenges during the season, the players learned valuable lessons and proved to everyone that they had what it took to play on this level.
The team also accomplished the following in 2007:
• Winning its first MEAC match since the 2003 season with a 3-0 victory at South Carolina State on October 2.
• Advancing to the MEAC Tournament for the first time since the 2004 season when all 11 teams qualified for the tournament.
• Completing the season sweep of South Carolina State in MEAC play and finishing the season with a 4-8 conference record.
The Spartans ended the season with seven players who could have returned to play this year, but in the off-season, the number of returnees dropped down to three. Leading the trio is senior outside hitter Yolanda Roberts. Roberts paced the team with 220 kills and 2.12 kills per game in 2007 and leads the returning players in kills, hitting percentage (.098), digs (270), solo blocks (8) and total blocks (30).
“Yolanda has been on the court consistently for the last three years which gives her the game experience and maturity that the incoming outside hitters lack,” Fry said. “She also has natural leadership qualities that her teammates will gravitate toward.”
The other senior returning for the Spartans is outside hitter Shardonay Blueford. Blueford saw an expanded role last season, playing in all 104 games after playing in a total of 31 games in her first two seasons with the team. Named the team's most valuable player in 2007, Blueford tallied 197 kills (1.89 per game) and 259 digs (2.49 per game).
“Shardonay has definitely improved her game tenfold since I got here,” Fry said. “If she comes back from summer in great shape and ready to play, she could see some time on the floor.”
Junior setter Solange Honore, NSU's all-time career leader in assists, rounds out the returnees. In just two seasons, she has climbed to the top of assist list, and now has 1,579 assists to her credit after passing out a team-high 818 in 2007. Last season, she ranked sixth in the MEAC in assists and averaged 7.9 per game. Honore hit .058 with 55 kills, 42 aces, 235 digs and 27 total blocks for the season, showing her ability to contribute beyond her setting duties.
“Solange is a great player who has been the primary setter for the last two years, but who also loves to play defense,” Fry said. “She is very versatile and can be used as a setter, defensive specialist, or libero. This season, I see her being on the court in some defensive capacity and possibly vying for our libero position.”
Fry will have some options in her the rotation of her lineup with the addition of three new outside hitters, one blocker, one middle hitter, one libero, and one setter.
“The seven newcomers will play a huge role this season because at least three of them, if not more, will be on the court at one time,” Fry said. “We now not only have a bench, but a bench of quality players who all truly have the opportunity to be on the court. These recruits will make the team more competitive because no position is solidified.”
The Spartans will have two freshmen and one junior available for the outside hitter positions, in addition to Blueford. Those three new players are: Breanna Allums (Channelview, Tex./Channelview HS), Paige Gary-Canty (Winston-Salem, N.C./Mount Tabor HS) and Aurelia Isham (Lancaster, Tex./Mineral Area (Mo.) College).
Allums, a four-year letterwinner at Channelview, was a three-time all-district first team pick and will be counted on to make an immediate impact on the court.
“Breanna has the ability to get off the floor exceptionally well and has a wealth of top-level club and high school volleyball experience,” Fry said.
Gary-Canty was a two-sport athlete in high school who has good court awareness and versatility.
“Paige is a multifaceted volleyball player who played three different positions in high school and who has the tools to develop into a great collegiate player.”
Isham, a junior college transfer, is also very athletic and will add depth to the outside hitter position.
“Aurelia is a solid outside hitter who brings energy, determination and decent ball control to the court,” said Fry. “She is strong and has good leaping ability.”
Elayne Greer (Bakersfield, Calif./Ridgeview HS), the team's tallest player at 6-foot-1, will take over the middle blocking duties for the Spartans in 2008. After a productive senior season at Ridgeview, Greer was an All-Southwest Yosemite League second-team pick and the team MVP.
“Elayne brings a wealth of athleticism to the team because she has a vertical jump of over 10 feet,” Fry said. “She has a lot of potential and we are excited to develop her skills. With a strong work ethic and attention to detail, Elayne has the opportunity to elevate her game this fall.”
Junior college transfer Angie Clewis (Glen Heights, Tex./ Mineral Area (Mo.) College) will be one of the new middle hitters for the Spartans. Clewis earned National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Region XVI second-team honors and was selected on the Mid-West Community College Athletic Conference (MCCAC) All-Conference team a sophomore in 2007 at MAC.
“Angie will compete for playing time at one of the middle hitter spots,” Fry said. “She is small in size at 5-9, but she is amazingly quick and jumps very high.”
Jourdan Ellison (Houston, Tex./Clear Brook HS) should be the starting libero on opening day. Ellison helped Clear Brook to consecutive district titles in 2006 and 2007 and played on the USA Youth National team in 2006, adding to her on-the-court experience.
“Jourdan is a very skilled and quick defensive player who will bring an outstanding competitive spirit and defensive mindset to our volleyball program,” said Fry.
Nicole Kessner (Blacksburg, Va./Rancho Cucamonga HS (Calif.)) will back up Honore at the setter position. Kessner averaged over 800 assists per season in each of her two years on the varsity team at RCHS and was named to the All-Baseline Conference first-team her junior and senior years.
“Nicole has the hands, court sense, and knowledge to make her the special setter that she is,” Fry said. “She has all of the abilities that we look for from that position, including high intensity, competitiveness and personality.”
Fry will have help on the sidelines this year as she welcomes graduate assistant Jami Hester and volunteer assistant Brandon Duvall. Hester, a former standout player at Mississippi State, joins the coaching staff after a one-year stint at Rock Island High School in Rock Island, Ill. Duvall, a mainstay on the Hampton Roads volleyball scene, brings a wealth of club and high school coaching experience to the Spartans.
