NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State volleyball team will host nine matches this semester, part of an 18-match spring schedule that the program announced on Friday. It includes 12 MEAC contests and six non-conference matches beginning later this month.
 
The Spartans will play a two-match series, both home and away, with each of the other three teams in the MEAC Southern Division. NSU switched from the North to the South for the spring after Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman opted out of the season.
 
All home matches this year, in addition to the MEAC Tournament, will be played at Joseph Echols Hall to allow for social distancing. Due to State of Virginia restrictions according to the most recent Amendment to the Executive Order 67, only guests of the participating teams will be allowed in the facility during matches. The matches are not open to the public under the current Amendment but will be streamed through the NSU website.
 
The MEAC postponed fall sports to the spring this academic year due to COVID-19. Conference play now begins in mid-February.
 
"This season is going to be extremely challenging due to COVID-19 and having all sports playing at the same time," said NSU head coach Kathy Bullock. "However, with this schedule we have, I am looking forward to putting out a high-level product on the volleyball court. #LevelUp."
 
NSU's spring slate will start on Jan. 23 when the Spartans host George Mason at 12 p.m. That will be followed by another home contest on Jan. 29 against VCU at 4 p.m. The first month of the season ends at ODU on Jan. 31.
 
A home-and-home non-conference series with Delaware State is up next, starting on Feb. 4 at home with a 4 p.m. match and then finishing at DSU on Feb. 8. The last non-conference match of the year will take place at UNC Wilmington on Feb. 16.
 
Prior to the matchup with UNCW, conference play will begin on Feb. 11-12 at North Carolina A&T. All MEAC matches this year will be played on Thursdays (4 p.m.) and Fridays (1 p.m.), with the same start time each week no matter home or away.
 
The rest of February includes MEAC homes matches with South Carolina State on Feb. 18-19 and road contests at North Carolina Central on Feb. 25-26.
 
In March, NSU will play all three Southern Division teams again, beginning with the last road swing at South Carolina State on March 4-5. The regular season schedule closes at home against North Carolina Central (March 11-12) and North Carolina A&T (March 18-19).
 
After a week off, the MEAC Championship will take place from April 2-3 at Echols Hall. The top two teams from each division will advance.
 
All dates and times are subject to change.