NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State women's volleyball team is back in action this weekend as the team returns to Gill Gymnasium for a MEAC match up against Coppin State University.  

The Spartans and Eagles will meet on Friday, October 6, at 6 PM for first serve. The winner of the match will gain sole possession of first place in the MEAC Volleyball standings.  

Norfolk State Notes 

NSU enters the match on a four-game winning streak and their best conference start in MEAC history. Most recently, the Spartans defeated the Hornets of Delaware State in straight sets in Gill Gymnasium in front of a packed house.  

The Spartans have the reigning MEAC Player of the Week and a three-time Rookie of the Week leading their attack in Shonte Seale and Gabrielle Gilbert. Gilbert and Seale lead the Norfolk State attack with 140 and 127 kills respectively.  

Sydney McCree has been working hard at the setter position to set up the attackers with well-placed sets. McCree is only 46 assists away from 1,000 career assists and 337 assists on the season. She also leads the team with 14 service aces. Trinity Mitchell, a freshman defensive specialist, is right on her heels with 13 aces while Gilbert has 12.  

Defensively Fabiana Mucciola leads the back line with 125 digs. McCree and Seale are next in line sitting at 80 and 76 digs respectively. Senior Adlene Jideofor has collected 23 blocks at the net with freshman Grace Smith not far behind with 16.  

Coppin State Notes 

The Eagles come into Friday night's match on a two-game win streak after defeating South Carolina State and N.C. Central last weekend. CSU is 14-3 overall with their three losses coming against Auburn, UNLV, and American.  

In the stats columns, Coppin State has recorded nearly 140 more kills than their opponents while making fewer errors on about the same number of attacks. The setters are working hard with nearly 130 more assists than their foes. On serves, the Eagles have 36 more aces than their opponents and fewer errors as well. The CSU defense has dug up about 60 more attacks than their opponents while making about the same number of blocks. 

CSU is led on attack by TaKenya Stafford with 212 kills, while Ammaarah Williams and Geraldyn Palacios are the only other two Eagles with 100+ kills sitting at 154 and 107 respectively. Andrea Tsvetanova, a regular recipient of the MEAC Setter of the Week award, has put up an impressive 572 assists averaging 9.38 per set to lead the MEAC. She also leads the team in service aces with 30 on the season.  

Coppins defense is led by Ashley Roman with 295 digs as one of our players with 100+ digs. Stafford and Tsvetanova have 159 and 106 respectively, while Coco Figueroa is just behind with 102. Laila Ibrahim leads the team at the net with 52 blocks while Palacios is next in line with 42.  

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