This Weekend
Friday: NSU at Delaware State, 7 p.m.
Sunday: NSU at UMES, 3 p.m.
Live Stats (DSU) | Live Stats (UMES) | Live Audio (UMES)

NORFOLK, Va. – Now at 2-1 in conference play, the Norfolk State volleyball team will attempt to stay above .500 this weekend with a pair of matches on the road. NSU will take on Delaware State Friday at 7 p.m., followed by UMES Sunday at 3 p.m.

Fans can follow the action through the live stats links for both Delaware State and UMES. Neither school will have a live video feed, although the Hawks will have a radio broadcast for the match on Sunday.

The Spartans had won three in a row before a 3-0 setback to a strong VCU team on Tuesday at Echols Hall. The Spartans now sit at 5-17 overall, as well as 2-1 in MEAC play. Delaware State dropped to 4-12 overall and 1-3 in the conference after losses last weekend at home, while UMES owns the top spot in the standings at 3-0 in the MEAC and 17-4 overall.

UMES has a 23-7 edge in the all-time series with NSU since 1989, sans the 1998 and 2000 seasons. Delaware State has won 19 of the 25 meetings against NSU.

Senior Charlotte Armstead continues to lead the Spartan attack with 3.18 kills per set on a .239 attack percentage. Senior Beatriz Ferreira ranks second with 2.26 kills, NSU has also gotten production from freshman Jessica Johnson (1.64 kills) and juniors Coralie Jarema and Goda Jankauskaite (1.47 kills per set each).

Sophomore Adriana Ramos has a team-leading 0.32 service aces, while freshman Darcy Moore has compiled 8.28 assists per set.

Redshirt sophomore Noelle Eagles has posted 3.92 digs per set, with Ramos second at 1.90. In the front row, Jankauskaite has a team-best 0.76 blocks, with Jarema contributing 0.66 blocks.

Moore Named Rookie of the Week
Moore was tabbed the conference's Rookie of the Week on Monday after tallying 8.89 assists and 3.22 digs per set last week, including a season-high 51 assists in a 3-1 win over William & Mary. It marked the first time a Spartan player earned a weekly honor since Armstead was named the MEAC Player of the Week on Nov. 15, 2010.

Getting Closer
Eagles is now 84 digs away from tying Kim Mumford for the all-time career mark in that category. Should she pass that this year, and should Armstead continue on her pace, the all-time school records for sets played, kills, attacks, assists, block assists, total blocks and digs will be held by current players.

MEAC Rankings
Eagles now ranks third in the league in digs (3.85), while Moore sits fifth in assists (8.46). Armstead ranks ninth in kills (3.17) and points (3.55) and 10th in hitting percentage (.243). Sophomore Jasmine Flowers just qualifies for inclusion in the stats with a .246 hitting percentage, ranking her ninth.

As a team, NSU stands fourth in assists (10.34) and kills (11.22), sixth in service aces (1.43) and digs (11.83), seventh in hitting percentage (.142), eighth in opponent hitting percentage (.238) and ninth in blocks (1.46) in the MEAC.

About Delaware State
The Hornets defeated Howard, 3-0, but have also dropped contests to UMES, 3-1, and to Coppin State and Morgan State last weekend at home by 3-1 scores to fall to fifth in the MEAC Northern Division at 1-3.

Delaware State has basically used an eight-player lineup this season, with Jessica Croucher-Russell leading the way with 2.58 kills and 0.47 service aces per set. Edarkis Branch ranks second with 2.19 kills, while Christobel Fakaosi has a team-leading 8.35 assists. Jasmine Jackson is one of five players with two or more digs per set at 2.55. Russell-Croucher ranks second on the team with 2.40, and Fakaosi is third at 2.37. Laisha Davis outpaces every other player with 0.95 blocks per set.

About UMES
The Hawks downed Coppin State and Delaware State by 3-0 scores to open MEAC play, with a curious 3-2 win over a winless Howard squad in between. UMES will face Hampton on Friday night before hosting the Spartans on Sunday.

Saitaua Iosia missed 10 matches this year but has returned to the lineup with her team-leading 4.15 kills per set average. Maline Vaitai has tallied 2.75 kills, with Victoria Williams third on the team at 2.26. Iosia also averages team highs with 0.73 service aces and 2.76 digs, with Kaveinga Lea'Aetoa sitting at 0.52 service aces. Jessica Vicic has posted 10.21 assists, while Ndidi Ibe ranks as the Hawks' best blocker at 1.06 per set.

Up Next
NSU will play its last non-conference match of the season next Wednesday at North Carolina A&T before a home-and-home weekend against Hampton.