NORFOLK, Va. – In addition to banners and plaques, Norfolk State's seniors received the most special going-away gift of all this weekend: a Senior Day sweep.
 
The Spartans (6-14, 6-4 MEAC) defeated Morgan State (3-22, 2-9) 3-0 on Sunday by set scores of 25-23, 25-15, and 25-22. With the sixth victory in conference play and three matches remaining, the Spartans clinched their first six-plus win MEAC record since 2013.
 
Prior to the match, NSU honored five seniors, each of them making contributions in the ensuing match. Nicole Rodriguez posted nine kills and three assists, Carla Hernandez tallied nine digs and six kills, and Paola Maradei racked up five kills and two blocks. Myleah Carter notched four digs and a kill, while Siera Jones added two digs and a service ace.
 
With freshman setter Sydney McCree injured, Sofie Langer took her spot at "quarterback," as head coach Kathy Bullock put it. The junior stepped up to the challenge, leading the team in both assists (27) and digs (13).
 
Shonte Seale led the Spartans with 10 kills, while Adlene Jideofor stifled Morgan State's hitters with four total blocks. Defensive specialist Alondra Hernandez got involved all over the court, recording seven digs and career highs in service aces (five) and kills (three).
 
In addition to the match sweep, the Spartans secured a sweep of the regular season series against the Bears, both 3-0 victories. It marked the first time NSU had won both regular season matchups against MSU since the 2013 campaign.
 
Norfolk State took control midway through the first set with a 4-0 burst, eventually earning a 22-16 advantage. But a 7-2 run from the Bears pulled them within one, including staving off three set points. Jideofor put it away from there, giving the Spartans the first game with her third kill of the match.
 
Back-to-back aces by Alondra Hernandez helped the Spartans continue the momentum in the second set, but the Bears wouldn't go away just yet. Two MSU kills cut the lead to one, but Paola Matos led a 5-0 NSU run with a strong sequence of serves, before Alondra Hernandez tagged on another ace shortly after.
 
After putting the second set away in convincing fashion, the Spartans suddenly found themselves well behind in the third. Morgan State won nine consecutive points for an early 10-3 lead, forcing Bullock to use a timeout.
 
The pause helped the Spartans regroup effectively, and the defense enjoyed some scoring opportunities in the process. Behind Jones' serve, the Spartans mounted a 6-0 run to pull within two, including an ace by the senior and a pair of back row kills from Alondra Hernandez and Carter.
 
Matos gave the Spartans the lead with a kill, before serving up two aces to push NSU ahead 22-17. Alondra Hernandez put away her third kill of the day to set up match point, with Maradei closing out her senior night with an emphatic putaway down the middle.
 
NSU hits the road next weekend for rematches at South Carolina State on Friday and at North Carolina Central on Sunday.