NORFOLK, Va. – After last year's Battle of the Bay resulted in a captivating five-set thriller in front of a packed house, the Spartans and Pirates will run it back this Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Norfolk State's home opener.
 
Hampton came out on top of the 2021 match, but the Spartans hope to fill Gill Gymnasium once more for their chance at revenge.
 
Norfolk State (0-3) enters Wednesday's matchup on nearly a week and a half of rest, hoping to hand Hampton (2-0) its first loss of the season.
 
Last Time Out
 
NSU concluded the Pirate Invitational with a 3-0 loss to East Carolina, coming up short in multiple tight sets against the home team.
 
The Spartans led 21-20 in the first game, before ECU ended the set on a 5-0 run. After NSU fought back to even the second game 19-19, ECU produced a timely 6-1 run to go up two sets and extinguish any opposing momentum.
 
Carla Hernandez led the Spartans with 12 kills, while libero Nicole Rodriguez put up a match-high 13 digs in the back line. Freshman Sydney McCree capped off an impressive debut weekend, finishing the tournament with 66 assists across NSU's three matches.
 
Scouting Hampton
 
The Pirates got off to a roaring start this season, winning both of their first two matches in convincing fashion. Competing at the Henson Hawk Invitational in Princess Anne, Md., Hampton defeated Maryland Eastern Shore 3-1 and Manhattan College 3-0.
 
Entering the team's first year in the CAA, Hampton's starting lineup is littered with experienced. Grad student Clara Smith heads the Pirate attack, posting double-digit kills against both MDES and Manhattan. Senior Julieta Campana racked up 53 assists across the two matches.
 
Last Meeting
 
Last year's Battle of the Bay certainly lived up to the hype. In front of a thunderous crowd at Gill Gymnasium, the Spartans fought back from a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth and final game. The Pirates narrowly escaped with a win, taking the deciding set 20-18.
 
Rodriguez and fellow returning starter Shonte Seale put together fiery performances in that match. Seale posted a career-high 24 kills, while Rodriguez recorded 24 digs. Seale excelled defensively as well, adding 20 digs of her own.