NORFOLK STATE [1-18, 0-6 MEAC] at HOWARD [10-7, 4-2 MEAC]
Date / Time	Friday, Oct. 17 | 6 PM
Location	Washington, D.C. | Burr Gymnasium
TV / Streaming	ESPN+
Tickets	N/A
Live Stats	hubison.com
Match Notes	Norfolk State Notes
All-Time Series	Howard Leads, 34-5
Social Media	Twitter - X | Instagram | Facebook

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Norfolk State volleyball team travels to the nation's capital this weekend for a MEAC matchup at Howard. The Spartans face the Bison at 6 p.m. on Friday at Burr Gymnasium.
 
About Norfolk State
The Spartans enter the weekend 1-18 overall and 0-6 in MEAC play after dropping matches to South Carolina State and North Carolina Central last week.
 
Junior outside hitter Gabrielle Gilbert leads NSU with 239 kills and a .192 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter Jasmine Mataira has totaled 113 assists. At the service line, Gilbert (24), Briana Ellis (16), Mya Wood (15) and Mary Nahinu (12) provide steady production.
 
On defense, Wood leads the team with 158 digs, followed closely by Nahinu with 157. Ava Berry anchors the front line with 54 blocks, while Reagan Chisholm (35), Gilbert (28) and Isis Castille (20) add support.
 
Record Watch
Gilbert ranks third in career kills at NSU with 944, surpassing Kim Mumford last weekend (1992-95), who finished with 937. She trails Jessica Johnson (2012-14, '16) in second with 1,002 kills. Charlotte Armstead (2009-12) holds the program record with 1,177. Gilbert also ranks fourth in career attacks with 2,512.
 
About Howard
Howard enters Friday's match 10-7 overall and 4-2 in MEAC play. The Bison earned two conference wins last weekend, defeating North Carolina Central 3-2 and South Carolina State 3-0. HU sits third in the MEAC standings behind Coppin State (12-9, 6-0) and Morgan State (7-8, 4-1).
 
Aziah Buckner and Leah Reeves earned MEAC weekly honors this week, with Buckner named Defensive Player of the Week and Reeves earning Setter of the Week.
 
Senior outside hitter Rya McKinnon leads Howard with 285 kills. Zenai Jethroe follows with 168, while Alexys James adds 148. Reeves directs the offense with 607 assists, and James contributes 125. From the service line, James (32), Reeves (29) and Buckner (22) pace the team.
 
Defensively, Claire Simpson leads the Bison with 188 digs, followed by McKinnon (146) and Buckner (136). Jethroe anchors the net with 74 blocks, and Kaitlynn Robinson adds 61.

For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, please follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X/Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram), @nsuathletics (YouTube) or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.