NORFOLK, Va. — For the second consecutive year, the Green team defeated the Gold team 3-1 (25-20, 24-26, 25-14, 25-15) in the Norfolk State volleyball pre-season intra-squad scrimmage on Saturday afternoon at Echols Hall.

The 2009 squad played four competitive sets in front of about 80 faithful fans who braved the torrential rains to get a sneak peak of the team.

Overall, third-year head coach Jennifer Fry was excited by what she saw. The team has several young players who still need to develop more in Fry's system, but she was able to see the evident potential in all of the athletes who played in the scrimmage. Fry also has good depth at every position, which is something that will benefit the team from immediately.

Fry was especially impressed with what she saw from sophomore middle blocker Elayne Greer (Bakersfield, Calif.), sophomore outside hitter Breanna Allums (Channelview, Tex.) and liberos senior Solange Honore (San Fernando, Trinidad) and junior Tracey Copley (Virginia Beach, Va.).

Fry pointed out that the team still needs to work on communicating on the court, blocking and finishing plays. There were several instances where two or more players collided while trying to dig or attack the ball. But Fry knows exactly what the team needs to work on to be ready for opening day and will work to get the team to where it needs to be.

The Spartans opens their season next Friday when they play Texas-Corpus Christi in the UTEP Sun Bowl Invitational at 7 p.m. NSU hosts Hampton on Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. in its home opener.