NORFOLK, Va. – For the Norfolk State volleyball program, the 2021 season can't start soon enough. 

Fortunately, the waiting is almost over, as the season gets underway at 6 p.m. Tuesday at home against Hampton University at Gill Gymnasium.

The anticipation is two-fold. For one, the Spartan volleyball team was the lone NSU fall sports team to attempt to play a spring 2021 season. But six matches in, NSU had to suspend its season due to effects of the pandemic.

"It was a tough situation, because we feel like we lost a lot of opportunities to improve," NSU head coach Kathy Bullock said. "Our players got a little taste of what the conference was like, but we didn't feel like we had the chance to really show what we had. That's made us hungrier."

The other reason for anticipation? Bullock calls this 2021 squad her best yet at NSU.

"Things have gone great so far – the players have made really fast strides," Bullock said of the preseason preparation. "We're definitely progressing on the right track. Our team is trusting the process."

The Spartans welcome back eight players who saw time in the shortened spring season, one redshirt and will debut eight newcomers in 2021. There is plenty of experience to go around, with four seniors among the returners: outside hitters Rachel Williams and Taylor Eichelberger, middle blocker Paola Maradei and libero Nicole Rodriguez. 

Williams led the team with 1.95 kills per set last season, her first at NSU after transferring from Arkansas Fort-Smith. 

"Rachel is growing into the hitter we thought she'd be," Bullock said. "She has improved her shot selection and knows better what to do against bigger blockers. She's also taken on a leadership role."

Eichelberger was third on the team with 1.57 digs per set last year and is rounding back into form after a knee injury she suffered in 2019. She owns the program's single-match record with 28 kills set in 2017.

"We're starting to see more of her old form before her injury," Bullock said. "She is going to be a big part of what we do this year."

Maradei hit .207 and was second on the squad in blocks during the spring season, which was her first with the Spartans after transferring from junior college. She is part of a deep corps of blockers for Bullock and the Spartans this year.

Rodriguez, who also transferred in from junior college last year, quickly made her presence felt this spring. She averaged 4.62 digs per set during NSU's abbreviated spring season, which ranked her second in the conference at the time.

"I think Nicole can be (MEAC) defensive player of the year," Bullock said. "She is the leader of an improved back row for us."

Another key returner for the Spartans is sophomore opposite Paola Matos. Despite the Spartans being limited to just six matches, Matos earned a spot on the MEAC All-Rookie Team in the spring. She was second on the squad in kills and third in blocks.

"Paola is always excited to be on the court. I really think she is doing to do great things for us," Bullock said. "She didn't really get to have much of a freshman year, so she is hungry to get out there."

Other key returnees include liberos/defensive specialists Myleah Carter, Siera Jones and Kalaya Brown. They are part of what Bullock refers to as her "offensive line."

"Their job is to make sure to control the other offense and not let anything through," Bullock said. "Watching the competition among that group has been fun – there is a lot of competition for those spots, and that's going to make us better as a team."

Also returning is Christian Wilson, who redshirted last year for the Spartans. She provides depth at the outside hitter position.

The eight-player recruiting class should add depth and competition at every position. Gracie Teeter and Kendra McRuffin are a pair of middle blockers who transferred in from the junior college level, while Shachia Lamb is an area standout from Yorktown who also adds to an improve middle for NSU.

"We really focused on improving our middle block because I like to run my offense around the middle," Bullock said. "Kendra is excellent off one foot and can really score in 1-on-1 situations. 

"Gracie is very agile and mobile and she plays with a swagger. She helps give us that wall up front," Bullock continued. "And Shachia is very energetic and can also play opposite, as well."

Another junior college recruit expected to make an early impact is outside hitter Shonte Seale. The native of Barbados was an all-region performer last year at Dakota College at Bottineau who averaged 3.85 kills per set.

"Shonte is just a beast," Bullock said. "She's the biggest jumper we have. As she gets connected even better with our setters, the sky is the limit for her."

Bullock also has high hopes for freshman setters Caris Cross and Calyce Jones. Cross, from Michigan, and Jones, a California native, were both all-district performers and club standouts in their respective states.

"Caris was nominated to be one of our captains, which tells you something about her since she's only a freshman," Bullock said. "She is everything you want in the quarterback of your offense.

"Calyce was coached by one of the best players ever, in Misti May-Treanor, and is also fighting for a big role. She also gives us the ability to use a 6-2 offense if we need a bigger block."

Other freshmen looking to make an impact include libero/defensive specialist Kylah Hunter and outside hitter/defensive specialist Alexis Johnson.

"Kyla is mature for a freshman and she's fearless. She is ready to make an impact on our program," Bullock said. "Alexis helps with depth at several positions and has a very good serve."

Following the Spartans' opener against Hampton on Tuesday, the non-conference portion of the schedule also includes tournaments at UNC Greensboro and North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, North Carolina, in addition to weekends at Towson and Old Dominion. A home matchup with nearby Regent University is also on tap for Sept. 7. MEAC play gets underway in late September.

Bullock is excited to see how her team materializes, but she sees the potential in her squad already.

"We're young in some spots, so there will be some ups and downs. That's why it's important to have some early success," Bullock said. "But this is an exciting team, probably one of the best I've ever had. This team can beat anybody we play, we just have to get five percent better each day."