Home Weekend - Gill Gymnasium

Friday, Sept. 29	NSU vs. Coppin State	6 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 1	NSU vs. Morgan State	3 p.m.

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State volleyball team will stay at home for the second straight weekend, but this time it counts toward the MEAC standings as the Spartans host a pair of Northern Division foes from Baltimore.
 
On Friday, NSU takes on Coppin State at 6 p.m. at Gill Gymnasium. Then on Sunday, the Spartans return to the gym to face Morgan State at 3 p.m.
 
Live stats and a live video feed for both matches will be available.
 
This will mark the beginning of conference play and the second weekend in a row NSU will play at home. Last weekend, the Spartans hosted Savannah State at Gill Gym and then played two matches against South Carolina State and North Carolina A&T in Virginia Beach as part of the MEAC North-South Challenge.
 
Those matches did not count toward MEAC records, however. Only matches against the MEAC Northern Division, of which none of NSU's three opponents last weekend are a part, count toward the Spartans' conference record.
 
Overall, Norfolk State stands 3-10 on the season. Coppin State remains winless this year at 0-16. Morgan State was off last weekend, and the Bears carry a 1-12 mark. The two Baltimore schools also face Hampton this weekend as part of their trip to the area.
 
Quick Opponent Capsules
Of NSU's two opponents this weekend, Morgan State has been more impressive on offense, with Cristen Coryatt tallying 3.73 kills per set to lead the entire league. Keana Browne (2.39) and Natashia Barker (2.13) also have been integral parts of the offense. Barker and Coryatt are also averaging 2.61 and 2.60 digs per set, respectively, with Jasmin Hubbard leading all players at 3.83.
 
For Coppin State, Asia Stennis has been the biggest hitter. She tallies 2.25 kills per set, with no other player at more than 1.50. Glorines Rosado (3.71 digs) and Bailee Jackson (2.43) have been anchors in the backcourt for a team that has lost all but three matches by a 3-0 score.
 
Morgan State, meanwhile, has taken a few more sets off teams in its losses, in addition to a 3-1 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 2. The only common opponent between NSU and either school is Lehigh, a team that defeated both NSU and CSU by 3-0 scores.
 
MEAC Rankings
The Spartans moved up to fourth in the league in opponent hitting percentage (.207) after last weekend, and they also rank fourth in service aces at 1.32. Norfolk State also sits sixth in assists (9.66), seventh in kills (10.28) and digs (12.62) and eighth in hitting percentage (.118) and blocks (1.60).
 
After her solid hitting day, particularly against South Carolina State on Saturday, Clarke Tyler now ranks seventh in hitting percentage at .258. Clara Kick, meanwhile, is 10^th at .239. Kick is also eighth in blocks (0.81), while Melvina Brown sits second in digs (4.17) and sixth in service aces (0.36).
 
National Update
Brown is the only player for NSU who is ranked nationally. She stands No. 130 in aces (0.36) and No. 135 in digs (4.17). As a team, the Spartans rank highest in aces at No. 131 in the nation (1.32 per set).
 
Good Weekend
Tyler hit at least .333 in all three matches last weekend, including .609 (14 kills on 23 attacks) in the loss to South Carolina State on Saturday. The NSU Division I record (minimum 10 kills) belongs to Heather Quinn, who had 10 kills on 13 attempts (.769) at UNC Wilmington on Sept. 7, 2007.
 
Tyler's percentage against S.C. State is the best by an NSU player with a minimum of 10 kills since 2013 and the second highest since 2010. Only Goda Jankauskaite (.667) on Sept. 14, 2013, had a higher hitting percentage in a match since '10.
 
Up Next
NSU balances out the beginning of its conference schedule by heading on the road for two matches. The Spartans play next weekend at Maryland Eastern Shore on Oct. 6 and then at Delaware State on Oct. 8.