NORFOLK, Va. – Norfolk State volleyball got Homecoming weekend started in spectacular fashion, sweeping South Carolina State 3-0 at Gill Gymnasium. The result never looked in question as the Spartans earned set victories of 25-11, 25-10, 25-11.
 
NSU received contributions across the lineup on Friday night, with 16 different Spartans notching a kill, assist, or dig. The team recorded season highs in service aces (14) and hitting percentage (.373), while tying a season-low 10 attack errors.
 
Shonte Seale led the Spartans with seven kills, while Carla Hernandez and Paola Matos added six each. Nicole Rodriguez posted a team-best seven digs, and Sydney McCree totaled 23 assists.
 
The Spartans faced the most resistance early in the first set, as the teams went back and forth and NSU narrowly gained a 7-6 advantage. But a 7-0 run would thrust the Spartans ahead 14-6 behind a string of supreme serves by Matos.
 
A well-balanced attack guided the Spartans to a first set win, with kills distributed relatively evenly across a plethora of contributors. Christian Wilson made an immediate impact in her first action of the season, quickly recording a kill and two service aces late in the opening game.
 
Norfolk State continued to apply pressure in the second set, with Matos leading another 6-0 run with power and placement on her serves. Adlene Jideofor added two kills during that key stretch, ending the match with five kills on an efficient .714 hitting percentage.
 
An 8-0 burst put the Spartans firmly in control of the second set, with half the run coming on McCree's serve and the other from junior setter Sofie Langer. Hernandez and Seale added emphatic kills late in the set as NSU cruised to a 2-0 lead for the match.
 
With Norfolk State nursing a convincing lead, head coach Kathy Bullock had the opportunity to dig deeper into her bench, with each substitution providing new energy and versatility. Alondra Hernandez donned the libero jersey for the third set, finishing the night with five digs and three assists. Her defensive tenacity helped hold the Bulldogs to a -.05 hitting percentage in the final frame.
 
Siera Jones, Raquel Lightbourn, Calyce Jones, Shachia Lamb, and Kylah Hunter were among the Spartans that made the most of their late opportunities. Calyce Jones wasted no time tallying two assists and a kill in the match's final moments.
 
Norfolk State (4-11, 4-1 MEAC) looks to extend its winning streak to three with another home bout on Sunday, facing North Carolina Central at 1 p.m.