GREENVILLE, N.C. – Despite multiple tight sets at Williams Arena, Norfolk State lost to East Carolina 3-0 on Saturday in the final match of the Pirate Invitational.
Carla Hernandez led the Spartans with 12 kills on 32 attempts.
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The first two games saw the teams trade blows, but NSU came up short in both, losing the first 25-21 and the second 25-20. The Pirates pulled away 25-16 in the final set.
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Junior libero
Alondra Hernandez got NSU going with an ace on the first serve of the match.
Carla Hernandez put away a pass from
Sofie Langer on the next point, one of her four kills of the first game.
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As the squads exchanged leads, fifth-year senior
Nicole Rodriguez kept the Spartans' defense strong. Rodriguez finished the day with 13 digs, while
Alondra Hernandez added eight.
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Sydney McCree gave the Spartans momentum with a crafty kill, before rejecting a Pirate attack on the next point. The freshman setter led the Spartans with 19 assists on Saturday, continuing the impressive opening weekend of her career.
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With the Spartans holding a 21-20 lead in the opening game, ECU harnessed the energy of the home crowd for a set-clinching 5-0 run. Another late run five-point burst pushed the Pirates to victory during the second set as well, despite NSU outside hitter
Shonte Seale heating up with four kills in the frame.
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After racking up 24 kills across the first two sets, the Spartans struggled to reignite their offensive firepower. The Pirates held NSU to six kills on a -0.13 hitting percentage in the final game, with eight attack errors preventing the Spartans from making a run.
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The Spartans will now receive ample time to regroup after playing three matches in two days. The team faces Hampton for its home opener at Gill Gymnasium on Sep. 7 in the Battle of the Bay.
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