ORANGEBURG, S.C. --- The Norfolk State volleyball team dropped a straight-set match (22-25, 18-25, 13-25) to South Carolina State on Friday evening.
 
The Spartans fell to 1-17 overall and 0-5 in MEAC play, while the Bulldogs improved to 4-13 (1-4 MEAC).
 
Gabrielle Gilbert led Norfolk State with 11 kills, adding three aces at the service line. Isis Castille followed with six kills, while Kaden Sanders tallied two aces. Jasmine Mataira directed the offense with 19 assists.
 
Mary Nahinu anchored the Spartan defense with 15 digs, followed by Mataira with nine. Reagan Chisholm contributed two blocks.
 
Norfolk State opened the first set with a 6-2 lead behind a Gilbert kill. Sanders extended the momentum with an ace, but South Carolina State grabbed its first lead at 12-11. The teams traded points until a 4-1 Bulldog run pushed SCSU ahead 20-17. NSU responded with back-to-back aces, but SCSU secured the set 25-22.
 
The Spartans jumped out to a 3-0 start in the second set before the Bulldogs countered with a 9-3 run. Norfolk State regained an 11-10 lead after a South Carolina State set error, but the Bulldogs responded with an 8-2 surge. NSU trimmed the deficit to one with a four-point run before SCSU closed the set 25-18.
 
South Carolina State carried its momentum into the third set, building an 8-2 lead. Gilbert and Chisholm stopped the run with back-to-back kills, pulling NSU within two. The Bulldogs answered with an 8-1 stretch to go up 16-7. Norfolk State scored three straight points, capped by a Jala Dixon kill, before SCSU sealed the match 25-13.
 
Norfolk State returns to action Sunday, Oct. 12, at 1 p.m. against North Carolina Central in Durham, N.C.
 
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