NORFOLK, Va. - The Norfolk State volleyball team went undefeated on day one of the Norfolk State Tournament to start off its 2024 campaign at Joseph Echols Hall on Friday.

The Spartans defeated both the Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb and the Cardinals of Lamar in three set victories each to open the season on a 2-0 record.

The first game of the day featured the Spartans overwhelming the Bulldogs after a dominant first set. With no errors committed, 14 kills, and six block assists, the Spartans hit on all cylinders and took advantage of the opportunities.

The Spartans hit .438 in the first set with Jordan Lyons and Gabrielle Gilbert both collecting four kills each. 

With Norfolk State holding a 20-17 lead in the second set and the Bulldogs gaining momentum, junior setter Sydney McCree fed Gilbert who scored four points as well as a service ace to put the game at a 2-0 Norfolk State advantage.

Sydney McCree finished the game with 34 assists, three service aces, and eight digs against the Bulldogs as the main facilitator for the Spartans. McCree contributed to four Spartans finishing with five or more kills: Adlene Jideofor (6), Alexa Harris (8), Lyons (12), and Gilbert (13).

Jideofor and Harris combined for nine blocks assists, showing their versatility on the offensive and defensive ends of the ball. Lily Rose-Pichon recorded 13 digs while Lyons added nine and McCree added eight.

Reagan Chisholm, a freshman from Charlotte, N.C., came alive in the third set for the Spartans. She tallied two pivotal blocks at the end of the set to put NSU in front. She also recorded a kill in the set as well.

Against Lamar in game two, McCree had the hot hand with three kills and nine assists through one set of play. She finished with 35 assists, five kills, and seven digs.

The dynamic trio of Gilbert, Jideofor, and Harris sparked asecond set run for the Spartans, scoring the final six points to take a 2-0 lead over the Cardinals. 

Trailing 21-20 in the second game, the Spartans went on a 5-1 run to secure the set. Harris recorded three kills in that time span, while Jideofor and Gilbert added one each.

The third set produced a back-and-forth effort from both teams, featuring nine ties and five lead changes. 

The Spartans came out on top in the third set, 28-26, after a spark by GIlbert and McCree.

Checking The Box Score

• The Spartans committed no errors in the first set against Gardner-Webb
• The Spartans combined for 14 block assists against Gardner-Webb
• Jordan Lyons and Gilbert combined for 25 kills and 14 digs against Gardner-Webb
• Sydney McCree finished with 34 assists against Gardner-Webb and 35 against Lamar totaling 69 through two games
• Gilbert finished with her first double-double of the season against Lamar after a 15-kill, 10-dig performance, to go along with four service aces
• Lily Rose-Pichon recorded double-digit digs in both games: 13 against Gardner-Webb and 14 against Lamar

News & Notes

• Friday marked the fourth meeting between the Spartans and the Bulldogs since 2016 and the first ever meeting against the Cardinals
• The Spartans tied the series 2-2 with the win over the Bulldogs
• In the first ever meeting between the programs, the Spartans took the first win of the series over Lamar
• Friday marked the first time since 2012 that the Spartans opened the season at home
• Norfolk State started the season with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2010.

 
UP NEXT
Norfolk State will play Miami (OH) at Joseph Echols Hall for day two of the Norfolk State Tournament Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
 
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics