ELON, N.C. -  Four members of the Norfolk State volleyball team surpassed their season-highs in the match-up against Elon University Tuesday evening in the 3-1 setback in Elon, N.C.

Gabrielle Gilbert, Lily Rose-Pichon, Sydney McCree, and Adlene Jideofor each surpassed their season-highs against the Phoenix (4-4).

Gilbert led both teams in kills securing 22 total which not only is her season-high but also tied her career-high. She posted 22 kills two other times in her career: Sept. 22, 2023 at UNC Wilmington and Oct. 20, 2023 against MEAC foe North Carolina Central.

A transfer from Colby Community College, Rose-Pichon, showcased her impact on the Spartans' (2-3) back row obtaining 17 digs. She leads the team with 62 total digs through 17 sets played averaging 3.59 digs per set.

Jideofor, an experienced leader in the front row for the Spartans, notched 6.0 total blocks for her third game this season with four or more blocks. She finished with two block solos and four block assists against the Phoenix.

McCree's 37 assists against Elon puts her at 159 accrued assists through five games of the 2024 season. In each game this season, McCree totaled 25 or more assists as the main facilitator for the Spartans.

The Spartans held the Phoenix to only four kills in the first set in a back-and-forth affair that contributed to nine ties and three lead changes. 

The Phoenix took set one, 25-21, after some crucial blocks garnered them the lead. A hot start in set two secured Elon the 2-0 lead over the Spartans.

Down two sets, the Gilbert and McCree tandem sparked the Spartans comeback behind Gilbert's nine kills. McCree notched nine assists and three kills herself in the third set that the Spartans won easily over the Phoenix, 25-16.

In set three, the Spartans took advantage of an Elon timeout going on a 9-4 run to increase their lead to 11 over the Phoenix. In that span, Gilbert secured four kills and a service ace, McCree posted four assists and a kill, and Jideofor and Jordan Lyons notched block assists each.

With the third set won, GIlbert, Lyons, and Alexa Harris contributed pivotal kills in the 11-5 run that brought the Spartans within one point of the Phoenix (23-22) in set four.

With chances by Gilbert and Lyons resulting in a block by Elon to score the winning point, the Spartans fell 25-23 in the fourth set.

Checking The Box Score

• Held Elon to four kills in set one and nine kills in set two
• Gilbert tied her season-high in kills (22)
• McCree set a new season-high in assists (37)
• Rose-Pichon posted a season-high 17 digs
• Jideofor secured 6.0 total blocks for a season-high
• Harris finished with double-digit kills (10)

News & Notes

• Fifth meeting between programs all time with the last meeting on Sept. 9, 2017
• All meetings between Norfolk State and Elon have been in North Carolina
• Norfolk State is 0-5 overall against Elon
• Coach Bullock is currently two wins away from 400 career wins

UP NEXT
On Friday, the Spartans compete in the Hokie Invitational hosted by Virginia Tech University. Norfolk State faces Virginia Tech at 12:30 p.m. and UNC Greensboro at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

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