NORFOLK, Va. – Two league teams will be looking for revenge this weekend as Norfolk State travels to Maryland Eastern Shore before returning to Gill Gymnasium to host Delaware State. The Spartans defeated both the Hawks and Hornets earlier in the season in their first two MEAC matches of the season.
 
The road bout at UMES will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday evening, with the home meeting against Delaware State scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. The match against the Hornets will be streamed live on HBCU League Pass+.
 
Last Time Out
 
Norfolk State dropped a five-set heartbreaker to North Carolina Central on Sunday despite multiple career performances.
 
Carla Hernandez notched her second double-double of the season, posting a career-high 22 kills with a season-high 15 digs. Nicole Rodriguez tied her career-high with 29 digs, her most this season, while freshman Sydney McCree totaled a career-high 48 assists. Paola Matos also added a career-best seven blocks.
 
Scouting the Hawks/Hornets
 
Maryland Eastern Shore comes into the matchup with the Spartans off a 3-0 sweep over Morgan State on the road. The Hawks have won three of their last four matches, including a 3-1 win at North Carolina Central. Nkemjika Ikemefuna leads the team with 2.71 kills per set, with Derionah Abner and Ranlya Griggs close behind at 2.17 and 2.15, respectively.
 
Delaware State lost to Coppin State 3-2 on Sunday, snapping a four-match win streak that started after the home loss to NSU. Senior middle blocker Sydney Lewis has made the most of her opportunities, leading the MEAC with a .409 hitting percentage. She also poses a problem for opposing hitters, posting a conference-best 1.21 blocks per set.

Last Meeting
 
Norfolk State stunned the Hawks 3-2 in their first meeting, coming back from a 2-0 deficit for the team's first win of the season. Hernandez earned a double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs, while Rodriguez recorded a match-high 17 digs.
 
Just two days later the Spartans took down Delaware State 3-0, the snapping the Hornets' 19-match home winning streak. Shonte Seale led NSU with 13 kills in the program's first win over DSU since 2018, while McCree stuffed the stat sheet with 33 assists, eight digs, and four service aces.