Wildcat Classic
Friday Schedule: vs. North Carolina A&T, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday Schedule: vs. Coastal Carolina, 10 a.m.; vs. Davidson, 5 p.m.
Live Stats (All 3 Matches)
Live Video (Davidson Match Only)
NORFOLK, Va. – Back on the road again, the Norfolk State volleyball team will head to Davidson this time for the Wildcat Classic Friday and Saturday at Belk Arena.
The Spartans will face a familiar foe in North Carolina A&T Friday at 4:30 p.m. before returning the next day to battle Coastal Carolina at 10 a.m. and then Davidson at 5 p.m. Live stats for every match will be available, while a live video feed will be available for the match against Davidson.
NSU will attempt to improve upon its 1-5 record following the first two weekends of the season, including a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Youngstown State last Saturday. The Spartans again got strong play from their front court attack, including junior Charlotte Armstead and freshman Adriana Ramos, who each tallied 20 kills against the Penguins. Armstead leads the team with 3.57 kills per set, while Ramos ranks second with 2.67.
In replace of injured setter Nicole Kessner, junior Kristen Burt has picked up the slack, posting 8.86 assists per set, while sophomore Noelle Eagles has anchored the backcourt defense with 4.38 digs. Up front, Armstead, senior Jasmine Frazier and junior Ashley Scott lead the way with 0.67 blocks each, while junior Beatriz Ferreira and Frazier have chipped in with 2.14 and 1.90 kills, respectively.
Big Showing
The win over Youngstown State marked just the third time ever NSU had two players with 20 or more kills in one match, and the first since Oct. 17, 2003 when Amanda Johnson had 26 and Stacey Williams added 22. Kami Jackson (23) and Kim Mumford (21) also accomplished the feat on Oct. 1, 1994.
In addition, Burt's 50-assist performance marked just the fifth time an NSU player reached the half century mark, joining Kessner (50) in 2009, Solange Honore (53) in 2006 and Afreya Allen (55 and 54) in 2003.
MEAC Rankings
Following last weekend's action around the league, Eagles ranks first in the MEAC in digs (4.38), while Armstead tops the rest of the league in attack percentage (.283). Burt stands second in assists (8.86), and Armstead ranks fourth in kills (3.57) and fifth in points (3.98).
As a team, NSU ranks first in the league in digs (13.48 per set), third in kills (11.81) and assists (10.57), fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.224), and fifth in blocks (1.62) out of 13 teams in the MEAC.
About North Carolina A&T
The Aggies are still looking for their first win of the season after dropping the first 10 matches so far, with a Thursday evening contest with The Citadel still on tap. Depth has become an issue with A&T with only six players on the roster.
Jenea Daniels leads the team with 1.57 kills, 0.53 blocks, and 1.63 digs, while Chelsea Fox has posted 4.20 assists. Tatiana Cooper ranks second with 1.17 kills and 1.57 digs, and Andrea Evans has chipped in with 1.00 kills and 0.47 blocks.
About Coastal Carolina
The Chanticleers have started off the year 4-7, falling to UNC Wilmington by a 3-0 score on Tuesday in their most recent action. Coastal Carolina owns wins over Gardner-Webb, Bradley, UNC Greensboro and one of this weekend's opponents, A&T.
Erika Lightsey and Meghan Laffin have done the majority of damage for the Chanticleers with 2.88 and 2.86 kills per set, respectively. Kindra Bailey and Katie Martin also add offensive punch and lead the way with 0.69 and 0.67 blocks. Lindsay Gill tops the squad with 3.69 digs, while Kelsie Mauck (7.24 assists), Sam Skryd (7.93) and Lauren Alejo (3.17) have all split time at setter.
About Davidson
The Wildcats own a 7-3 record, with their losses coming at the hands of Winthrop, James Madison and South Carolina. Davidson also owns a 3-2 win over UNC Wilmington, the same school that down Coastal Carolina on Tuesday.
Controlling the Wildcats means keying in on Carolina Brown, who ranks first on the team with 4.69 kills. Christine Perzinksi (2.51) and Tindall Sewell (2.43) also contribute on the offensive end, while Madison Benedict and Sewell are tops among their teammates with 0.69 and 0.60 blocks, respectively. Molly Crenshaw (4.37 digs) and Brown (3.74) anchor the backcourt defense, and Ariel Ley directs the offense with 10.97 assists.
Up Next
The Spartans will play High Point and Campbell on Sept. 24 at the High Point Invitational before returning home for six straight matches at Joseph Echols Hall.
