For Immediate Release
Sept. 4, 2021

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Norfolk State volleyball team split its two matches Saturday at the UNCG/A&T Tournament, bouncing back from a morning 3-0 loss to North Carolina A&T to win its first match of the year with a 3-0 victory over American on Saturday evening at Corbett Sports Center.

Against American, senior Rachel Williams tallied her second double-double of the tournament with a match-high 11 kills and 10 digs as NSU (1-3) topped the Eagles (3-3) 25-21, 25-20, 25-16. Paola Matos added nine and Taylor Eichelberger seven from the Spartans, who also got 20 digs from libero Nicole Rodriguez.

NSU used a 7-1 spurt midway through the first set to take control. The run included three blocks from the Spartans, and middle blocker Gracie Teeter had an assist on each. Williams and Matos capped the run with back-to-back kills.

The Spartans hit .233 in the second set and overcame the Eagles late in the set to go up 2-0. In fact, NSU scored the final six points of the set to pull away. Caris Cross, Eichelberger and Kendra McRuffin each had kills in the run, and Cross and McRuffin also combined on a block for NSU.

Two kills by Teeter and two aces from Matos helped the Spartans jump out to a 9-3 lead in the third set. McRuffin and Matos combined on a block to end the set, a fitting end to a match which saw the Spartans finish with nine total blocks. Matos and Teeter each had five block assists, Teeter had four and Cross three.

Cross added 31 assists for the Spartans, who hit a season-best .189 and committed just 14 errors.

Earlier in the day, the Aggies topped NSU in three sets, 25-12, 25-19, 25-16. Shonte Seale paced the Spartans with 10 kills, but NSU had just 22 kills against 20 errors as a team. Rodriguez registered 13 digs and Cross handed out 18 assists.

Seale was named to the all-tournament team. She tallied 21 kills in the two matches in which she played over the weekend.

The Spartans return home Tuesday to face Regent University. First serve is at 6 p.m. at Echols Hall.