NORFOLK, Va. – With the semester winding down earlier this month, the Norfolk State softball program spent part of December volunteering for a pair of holiday events.
 
During finals week, the players and coaches took part in the ninth annual Snowball Express, a four-day event held in Texas that honors families of fallen soldiers by providing fun activities that their children can take part in. Softball players and coaches volunteered during the local, one-day Snowflake event that was held at the Norfolk International Airport on Dec. 9 leading up to the bigger Snowball Express event in North Texas.
 
In early December, the softball team once again volunteered for the annual Stuff the Bus event, which collects toys for Hampton Roads Toys for Tots before the holiday season. The softball program has taken part in the event, hosted by radio station Z104, each of the last several years. This year, the team took part on Dec. 2 at the WalMart on Virginia Beach Blvd. near Town Center.
 
NSU opens up its 2015 season on Feb. 20 when the Spartans host Yale and Wagner to kick-off the three-day Spartan Classic. The Spartans welcome back 11 players from last year's team that finished 20-26 overall and 12-6 in the MEAC.