HAMPTON, Va. – The Norfolk State volleyball team opened its 2019 season in the Battle of the Bay against Hampton on Friday night. Despite a strong comeback in the first set, NSU ultimately fell to the Lady Pirates by a 3-0 score at Holland Hall.
 
The Spartans came close to pulling off a big win in the opening set of the year for both teams. Down 23-12, they won 11 of the next 12 points, including nine in a row at the end. Ultimately, Hampton held on for a 25-23 victory.
 
The Pirates then won the next two sets, 25-15 and 25-14. HU earned the win despite hitting one more attack error than the Spartans.
 
Senior Anna Rupertova led Norfolk State with six kills. Junior Taylor Eichelberger added four kills with six digs.
 
Hampton, which hit .129 for the match, got eight kills each from Sydney Summer and Isis Black. Summer also had three of the team's 11 service aces, as HU held an 11-1 edge over NSU in aces.
 
The Spartans fought back in that first set after HU won eight of the first 10 points and then later seven of eight points. Senior Bojana Bolozan had a kill and a block during NSU's 11-1 run, highlighted by numerous Hampton errors.
 
The Pirates led by 11 in the second set before NSU closed the gap slightly with a 5-1 run, including two kills from Rupertova. The Spartans won three of the first four points of the third set and were within one at 8-7 after back-to-back blocks. Thanks in part to a 6-0 run, Hampton slowly pulled away from there.
 
Bolozan had three blocks for the night, and junior Julisa Carrizosa led the team with eight digs.
 
The two teams will play again on Saturday, this time at NSU's Gill Gymnasium. First serve is set for 1 p.m.