DURHAM, N.C. – The Norfolk State volleyball team finished strong in a 3-1 victory over North Carolina Central on Friday evening at McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
The Spartans (7-8, 6-2 MEAC) dominated the final two sets of action against the Eagles (3-14, 2-6), winning the match by scores of 25-14, 22-25, 25-15, 25-9.
 
In her return to her hometown of Durham, sophomore Sydney McCree amassed 41 assists, her third match this season with 40 or more dimes. She also added six kills on seven swings for a .857 hitting percentage.
 
Norfolk State freshman Gabrielle Gilbert led the team with 22 kills, while Shonte Seale contributed 10 kills and three service aces. Sophomore Raquel Lightbourn tallied a season-high eight kills.
 
Lightbourn got the match started with a swift attack, and freshman Grace Smith came up with a block on the next point to get the Spartans moving quickly. Gilbert contributed a kill and service ace on back-to-back points shortly after, before a Lightbourn kill and Catori Crawford ace pushed the Spartans ahead 6-4 in the first game.
 
Seale notched her first kill of the day and an ace on the very next point to help NSU open up the lead, as the Spartans put together an 8-3 run. Norfolk State kept its focus throughout the first game, closing out the set by winning seven consecutive points behind Seale's serve.
 
North Carolina Central regrouped well after the strong start from the Spartans, jumping out to a 13-9 lead in the second set. After pulling within one point on multiple occasions, Norfolk State finally tied the game at 22-22 after back-to-back Gilbert kills.
 
But the Eagles responded with three straight points to take the second set 25-23, evening the scoreboard at one game apiece.
 
With the Spartans ahead 12-10 in the third set, the team turned once again to the serve of its senior leader. Getting the Spartans back in control with a kill from a McCree pass, Seale led the Spartans on an 9-0 run that included a service ace and two kills from senior teammate Adlene Jideofor.
 
The huge burst put the Spartans back in the driver's seat, winning the set 25-15. The momentum would only continue to build in the fourth set.
 
NSU started the game ahead 4-0 thanks to crafty serves by McCree, as well as a powerful block from Lightbourn and Smith. Smith finished the match with a career-high five total blocks, while Jideofor contributed four as well.
 
Another 5-0 run, this time primarily on Crawford's serve, put the Spartans comfortably up 11-2. Jideofor and Gilbert combined for another block to bring the advantage to 16-4, part of a 12-1 run on the serves of Seale and Fabiana Mucciola.
 
Smith blasted the final kill of the day to clinch the Spartans' sixth MEAC victory of the season.
 
Norfolk State will remain on the road for another conference matchup at South Carolina State (1-20, 0-7 MEAC) on Sunday, Oct. 22. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. at Dukes Gymnasium.