NORFOLK, Va. - It's a new day for Norfolk State volleyball, as the 2019 season brings a change in leadership with head coach Kathy Bullock. A coach with more than 20 years' experience at the Division I level, She will be tasked to turn around a program that has advanced to the MEAC tournament just once in the last five years and finished 4-17 overall last year, 3-7 in the league.
 
She will have a good starting point, as almost every significant contributor from a season ago is back. Most of them will also have upperclassmen status, giving Bullock a roster with plenty of experience. Throw in a few recruits to fill in some holes in the so-called depth chart, and there is hope around the program that a new day has arrived.
 
That new day starts this weekend when the Spartans host Hampton for a home-and-home. The teams first play on Friday at 6 p.m. at HU's Holland Hall. The return match against the Lady Pirates is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at Gill Gymnasium.
 
As the season gets going, NSU will have plenty of options on offense this year. Senior outside hitter Anna Rupertova will be one of the key players this season after averaging 2.57 kills and 2.00 digs per set in 2018 after missing the previous season due to injury. She will again be counted on to play a major role on offense, especially as one of eight seniors on the team.
 
She will be joined by two other significant offensive players from a season ago in senior middle blocker Bojana Bolozan and junior outside hitter Taylor Eichelberger.
 
Bolozan led the team and ranked in the top 10 in the MEAC in blocks (0.83) and service aces (0.41) while adding 1.90 kills. She showed solid offense in the preseason, including 19 kills in four sets in the team's intrasquad scrimmage last Saturday. Her blocking ability – she had six blocks in three sets against ODU in a joint practice on Wednesday – will be key for the Spartans this year.
 
Eichelberger tallied 1.65 kills and led the team with 2.01 digs last year. She too can play a big role on offense as she looks to get back to her freshman form that saw her tally nearly two and a half kills per set in 2017. She will play a part on defense after tallying three blocks in both the intrasquad scrimmage and against ODU.
 
Newcomer and junior outside hitter Julisa Carrizosa is another name to look out for on offense after tallying eight kills in the scrimmage a week ago. She was a two-time first-team all-region honoree at the NJCAA level at Phoenix College. She sat out last season there but averaged 4.31 kills and 3.94 digs her sophomore year in 2017, and 3.35 kills and 3.70 digs as a freshman in 2016.
 
At the middle blocker position, junior Jannel Ezeagwu is another player looking to take a step forward after chipping in with 1.15 kills and 0.57 blocks in 2018. With Bolozan the clear anchor in the middle, Ezeagwu has a chance to play a complementary role up front.
 
NSU is also experienced at the setter position, where three players saw time last year in seniors Jill Aquino and Halley McKnight and sophomore Makenzy Johnson. McKnight averaged 3.51 assists per set last year along with 1.66 digs, and with NSU thinner in the backcourt, she could take on a bigger role there.
 
Johnson led the team last year with 3.53 assists per set and is looking to take over the setter role full time. Aquino, meanwhile, added 3.05 assists and 1.18 digs in 2018 and is also pushing for time on the court.
 
Three other part-time contributors on offense are back in sophomore Kyra Walden (1.05 kills, 0.33 blocks), junior Quiana Griffin (1.02 kills) and senior Daiysa Burrell (0.88 kills). All three played complementary roles at the hitter position, and Walden and Griffin combined for 20 kills in the scrimmage. As they continue to grow, NSU's depth at the hitter position continues to get stronger.
 
Middle blocker Simone Daniels, an incoming freshman from Texas, and Chowan transfer Breona Young add depth in the middle. Daniels has plenty of solid experience after playing solid competition at the AAU level in recent years. Young, meanwhile, tallied 1.60 kills and 0.75 blocks per set as a freshman last year at Chowan, earning a spot on the CIAA All-Rookie Team.
 
Altogether, 16 players saw time on the court last year. The only one not back is libero Brenna Ankrum (1.98 digs). Junior Jazmine Craig spent time at libero last year when Ankrum wasn't in the lineup, averaging 1.24 digs per set. She too is looking to take on a bigger role this year, whether it's in the backcourt or up front at the hitter positions.
 
Rupertova and Eichelberger also helped anchor the backcourt defense last season, and Carrizosa adds to the depth there as well. Another name to look out for is freshman Myleah Carter. She will challenge for time in the backcourt after leading Henry Clay High School in Kentucky to state tournament appearances while also playing at a high AAU level.
 
Walk-on Siera Jones was the Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference Player of the Year while playing at Delmarva Christian High School and adds more depth to the backcourt.
 
Rounding out the group of returnees are three seniors in outside hitter/defensive specialist Ashley Patterson, defensive specialist Destine Hooker and middle blocker/hitter Jessica Radford. They along with sophomore outside hitter Symone Thomas saw limited action a season ago.