Norfolk State University Athletics

2017 NSU Volleyball Season Opening Weekend

Friday, Sept. 1	NSU vs. Saint Francis (Pa.) (at Lafayette)	3 p.m.	Live Stats
Saturday, Sept. 2	NSU at Lafayette	10 a.m.	Live Stats
	NSU vs. Central Connecticut State (at Lehigh)	1 p.m.	Live Stats
	NSU at Lehigh	4 p.m.	Live Stats

NORFOLK, Va. - Losing your top hitter and one of just two all-time 1,000-kill players in school history is not easy for a program to overcome. Losing three of your top four players in terms of total kills from a season ago makes the task even that much harder.
 
That is where the Norfolk State volleyball program and second-year head coach Dave Albaugh find themselves heading into the 2017 campaign. Gone are Jessica Johnson, a second-team All-MEAC honoree last year, as well as hitters Dominique Parker and Sydney Dailey. Together, the trio combined for 68 percent of the team's kills last year, and Johnson set the school record by averaging 3.66 kills per set.
 
As the new season inches closer, Albaugh and his assistants will determine who takes over the offense this year, especially with so many new or unproven hitters on the squad. The most proven hitter back is senior Clarke Tyler, who averaged 1.35 kills per set and was the team's top blocker last year at 0.62. She gives NSU the versatility to play in the middle or outside.
 
"Clarke has to play big for us," said Albaugh. "She brings a lot of stability and is always a solid, steady performer."
 
She and junior Lexi Brown (1.10 kills, 0.51 blocks) are the most experienced offensive options back from last year's team. Both will also serve as prominent anchors for the team's frontcourt defense while the newcomers get acclimated to actual competition.
 
It will take time for the Spartans to sort out their offensive options and build a depth chart, so to speak. That's because NSU brought in four freshmen for this year's recruiting class, all of whom have played up front on offense in the past.
 
Clara Kick, Jazmine Craig, Taylor Eichelberger and Quiana Griffin enter the fray for an offense needing a boost after last year's senior class departed. Eichelberger and Craig could see big roles on the outside right away, depending on how well they play in the early going.
 
Griffin can also hit but has been spending time at setter to help run NSU's 6-2 offense. Kick, a middle blocker from Germany, is the tallest player on the team at 6-3 and will vie for time in the middle.
 
After relying on Johnson for a lot of offense last season, NSU has the potential to spread the ball around this year and prevent teams from keying on just one player.
 
"Our freshmen will play major roles this season for us," said Albaugh. "How soon? We will have to see. But they have the talent to contribute a lot."
 
NSU not only has a lot of unknown to work through with its new players, but after Johnson, Parker and Dailey spend so much time on the court last year, there is plenty of unknown with returning players as well. Sophomores Jessica Radford, Ashley Patterson and Daiysa Burrell all saw limited time last season sitting behind the more experienced players.
 
Burrell and Radford will be battling for time on offense with the freshmen. Burrell led the team in kills during the team's Green vs. Gold intrasquad scrimmage two weeks ago. With spots opening up, the duo will have more opportunities to impress as the pecking order on offense shakes itself out. Patterson, meanwhile, has hit in the past but also gives the Spartans more options in the backcourt.
 
One more player looking to make an impact is freshman Jannel Ezeagwu, who sat out last season as a member of the team. A middle blocker and hitter with some size at 5-11, Ezeagwu impressed enough during practice that she too could serve as a key player on defense this season along with Tyler and Brown.
 
Two key contributors also back are sophomore setter Jill Aquino and senior libero Melvina Brown. Aquino averaged 7.02 assists per set while holding down the job full time, and Brown served as a very capable team leader after also tallying 3.72 digs per set. They will help make up for the loss of graduated defensive specialist Alex Irizarry (1.68 digs) and serve as solid foundations with so many new players in front of them.
 
"Having that leadership at libero is very important, almost as important as having leadership at the setter position," Albaugh stated. "That allows the team to be confident. Our upperclassmen know what to expect, something we will need with so many young players up front."
 
Two more of those upperclassmen who will lead the way are seniors Hope Forsythe and Tori Tulensru. Forsythe began her career as a hitter but has transitioned to the setter position now in the 6-2 offense. Tulensru averaged 1.33 digs as a sub and part-time starter on defense. She will see plenty of time in the back row and can also start at libero should Melvina Brown see time at hitter.
 
"Hope will play a major setting role for us this year," added Albaugh. "Tori is playing as well as she ever has. Her leadership and ball control will be very important for us."
 
Rounding out the roster are walk-ons Destine Hooker and Shanyla Johnson. Hooker appeared in three matches last year, while Johnson enters the program as a freshman this year. Both add depth to the backcourt, with Hooker also showing some promise on the serve during the intrasquad scrimmage.