Friday
NSU vs. Howard, 6 p.m.
Joseph Echols Hall
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NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State volleyball team will host first-place Howard on Friday night at Joseph Echols Hall for a Halloween Eve matchup. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
 
NSU's second-to-last home match of the year will find the Spartans taking on the top team in the MEAC Northern Division. The Bison, winners of seven straight, own an 8-1 conference record on the year as well as a 12-13 overall mark. Norfolk State sits at 2-18 overall and 1-6 in MEAC play.
 
The Spartans are coming off a pair of setbacks on the road last weekend at Coppin State and Morgan State. Howard's seven straight victories include a win over Southern Division leader Bethune-Cookman. The Bison have not lost since dropping at match at Morgan State on Oct. 2.
 
Big Showing
Angie Darcus has tallied 63 kills over her last four matches, including a career-high 20 against Hampton on Oct. 16. She has hit .302 during that time and averaged 4.50 kills per set. Darcus has led the team in kills in 15 matches this season, including the first seven of the year as well as the last four contests.
 
Around the MEAC
UMES' loss at Howard last Friday dropped the Hawks to 5-2 in conference play behind Howard and Morgan State (6-2). Coppin State also lost at home against Hampton to drop to 5-4 in the league, although the Eagles still have a strong hold on the fourth spot in the standings behind the Pirates (2-6), NSU and Delaware State (0-6).
 
In other action around the North this weekend, Howard plays at Hampton on Sunday. UMES will host Morgan State and then Coppin State in this weekend's Friday-Sunday matchups, while Delaware will play at Coppin State and then host Morgan State as well.
 
Movin' Up
Darcus has jumped several spots recently and now sits 10^th all-time at NSU in kills with 490. Another player poised to make a move is Darcy Moore, who sits eighth in digs with 711 and could reach fifth all-time at NSU with a strong finish to the season. She also ranks eighth in career sets played with 368.
 
MEAC Rankings
Thanks to some recent strong play, Darcus has moved up in the MEAC rankings. She now sits eighth in kills at 3.16 per set as well as seventh in points (3.54). Moore continues to rank sixth in assists (8.23) with Alex Irizarry 10^th in digs (3.08).
 
As a team, NSU has also jumped up to third in service aces at 1.34 per set. The next closest category is assists (9.91) and digs (12.93), where the Spartans sit seventh in the league in both. They also rank ninth in hitting percentage (.118), opponent hitting percentage (.237) and kills (10.55) as well as 12^th in blocks (1.10).
 
Series History
Howard owns a 15-5 edge in the all-time series with NSU. The Bison have won five in a row, including by a 3-0 score in the first match earlier this year in Washington, D.C. Howard swept the Spartans during the previous two seasons and owns a 6-3 record against NSU since Norfolk State moved to the Northern Division in 2011.
 
What to Know About Howard
Khaila Donaldson leads the way for the Bison with 3.35 kills and 2.84 digs per set. She is joined by Katherine Broussard (2.37 kills, 2.65 digs) and Courtney Dalton (2.09 kills, 0.64 blocks) on a team that averages nearly 12 kills and more than 14 digs per set.
 
Dominque Cleggett anchors the defense with 0.92 blocks, as does libero Morgan Marlbrough (4.18 digs). Briana Jackson has a team-best 30 service aces for a Bison squad that also allows less than one service ace per set. Jackson splits time at setter with Tamia Dockery, who ranks fourth on the team with 2.10 digs.
 
Up Next
The Spartans will host UMES on Nov. 6 in Gill Gymnasium for Senior Night. NSU will honor three of its departing seniors – Moore, Darcus and Janay Frazier.