NORFOLK, Va. – After taking its first two conference losses last week, the Norfolk State volleyball team responded with a statement win on Sunday afternoon, cruising past Morgan State 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 21-25, 25-23) at Gill Gymnasium.
 
Freshman Gabrielle Gilbert led the Spartans with 21 kills on a .326 hitting percentage, one kill from tying her career-high. Libero Fabiana Mucciola anchored the defense with a season-best 24 digs.
 
NSU sophomore Sydney McCree recorded her 1,000^th career assist during the first set on Sunday, receiving a commemorative ball to celebrate the occasion. McCree finished the match with 32 assists.
 
The first set was a back-and-forth battle, full of ties and lead changes. The Spartans eventually won three consecutive points on Catori Crawford's serve, creating some separation at 10-7.
 
A 3-1 run from Morgan State tied the set back up, though, moments later. Later in the set, Briana Ellis gave the Spartans a 20-19 lead, before back-to-back Shonte Seale kills gave the Spartans a prime opportunity.
 
Three attack errors from Morgan State in a span of four points closed out the first set, NSU taking a 1-0 advantage in the match.
 
Norfolk State continued to play strong defense in the second set, as Morgan State tacked on hitting errors. The Spartans made just three attack errors in the second game, while Morgan State made 13.
 
A four-point run on Seale's serve pushed NSU back in front, before McCree put the Spartans ahead 19-14 with a service ace. Norfolk State played disciplined the rest of the way, taking the second set 25-18.
 
NSU jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the third game, but Morgan State's Makila Billingsley's back-to-back aces helped the Bears tie things up. Gilbert and middle blocker Grace Smith contributed key kills, but Morgan State's defense helped hold the Spartans to a -.054 hitting percentage, taking the third set 25-21.
 
Norfolk State's showed poise in the clutch, though, pushing the Spartans to victory in the fourth set. With the Spartans trailing by two, first-year defensive specialist Trinity Mitchell fueled NSU to a 4-0 run on her serve to flip the scoreboard.
 
Morgan State retook the lead 19-17 later in the set, but the Spartans went on another run on Crawford's serve, a burst that included two Gilbert kills and one service ace. Seale put the match away with the final attack, taking the set 25-23.
 
Norfolk State returns to action on Friday, Oct. 20 at North Carolina Central. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. in Durham, N.C.