PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – For the second time this season, Norfolk State and Maryland Eastern Shore went the distance for a five-set, nervy MEAC bout. For the second time this season, NSU came away with a dramatic 3-2 victory.
 
Norfolk State (5-12, 5-2 MEAC) completed the regular season sweep of the Hawks (5-14, 3-5) by defeating UMES 25-16, 22-25, 25-21, 10-25, 15-9 for the team's third win in its last four matches. The Spartans secured their first 5-2 start in conference play since 2012.
 
Paola Matos led the Spartans with 11 kills and Shonte Seale followed closely behind with 10. Sydney McCree racked up 29 assists and nine digs, while Nicole Rodriguez posted a match-high 19 digs.
 
Although the team earned a similar result all the same, NSU's second win of the series against the Hawks came in much different fashion than the first. Unlike the roaring comeback a few weeks back, the Spartans opened the match with a comfortable lead.
 
Two quick Matos kills helped NSU gain a 3-0 advantage in the first set, and she added back-to-back successful attacks soon after. The latter stretched sparked an 8-1 NSU run that put the team in command, with Carla Hernandez putting away two consecutive McCree assists to close out the set.
 
Norfolk State looked to continue the hot start in the second set, aided by multiple strong attacks from Shonte Seale. But with the Spartans ahead 19-17, UMES reeled off five straight points to regain momentum and eventually even the match at one set apiece.
 
With the Hawks holding a 17-12 lead in the third set, it appeared NSU's control over the match may have slipped. The Spartans dismissed that idea with ferocity, winning 10 of the next 11 points to steal the game from the Hawks' grasp. The runs occurred on the serves of McCree and Hernandez, with a combined four service aces during the crucial stretch.
 
UMES kept the match alive with a dominant fourth set, outhitting the Spartans .235 to -.147. A 7-0 Hawks run put the team ahead, and a 6-0 burst moments later put any NSU comeback out of reach. For the fifth time this season, the Spartans were heading to a decisive fifth set.
 
NSU showed no signs of fear, jumping out to a 7-2 lead in the final game. Seale stepped up as one of the team's veteran leaders, posting three kills during the early run, while the Spartans' defense kept the UMES hitters at bay.
 
Adlene Jideofor came up with a crucial solo block just a couple of points later, getting the entire Spartans lineup jumping with excitement. Jideofor's lone block of the night came at a pivotal moment, while she put on an efficient clinic offensively on Friday – The middle blocker posted seven kills on just 10 attempts for a .700 hitting percentage.
 
Two Spartan defensive specialists also came up clutch in the third set with offensive highlights. Kylah Hunter stepped up off the bench for a well-placed service ace, before Alondra Hernandez notched her second kill of the season on an athletic back-row attack.
 
A 3-0 NSU run gave the Spartans match point at 14-8, but the Hawks staved off one opportunity. Matos put the match away with an emphatic kill on the next rally, her 11^th of the match.
 
Norfolk State returns to Gill Gymnasium on Sunday for an important MEAC matchup with Delaware State (15-6, 5-3). The Spartans had the Hornets' number in the teams' first meeting, earning a 3-0 sweep to snap DSU's 19-match home winning streak.