NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State volleyball team hits the road this weekend for a pair of MEAC matchups, visiting South Carolina State on Friday at 6 p.m. and North Carolina Central on Sunday at 1 p.m.
About Norfolk State
The Spartans enter the weekend 1-16 overall and 0-4 in the MEAC after dropping matches to Maryland Eastern Shore (3-2) and Delaware State (3-0).
Junior outside hitter
Gabrielle Gilbert leads NSU with 220 kills and a .200 hitting percentage. Sophomore setter
Jasmine Mataira has handed out 77 assists. At the service line, Gilbert (21),
Mya Wood (15),
Briana Ellis (15) and
Mary Nahinu (12) have provided steady production.
Wood leads the defense with 158 digs, followed by Nahinu with 134.
Ava Berry paces the Spartans at the net with 54 blocks, while
Reagan Chisholm (33), Gilbert (27) and
Isis Castille (20) add support.
Record Watch
Gilbert ranks fourth in career kills at NSU with 925. She trails Kim Mumford (1992-95), who sits in third with 937. Charlotte Armstead (2009-12) holds the program record with 1,177. Gilbert also ranks fourth in career attacks with 2,446.
About South Carolina State
South Carolina State enters Friday's match 3-13 overall and 0-4 in the MEAC. The Bulldogs dropped conference contests last weekend to Morgan State (3-0) and Coppin State (3-0).
Graduate outside hitter Kiyah Felder leads SCSU with 127 kills, followed by graduate middle blocker Hailey Harris with 76. Setter Arianna James directs the offense with 154 assists, and Macey McCoy adds 125. Harris (19), James (12) and Miya Benson (12) lead the team in service aces.
Benson anchors the defense with 148 digs, followed by James with 76. Harris controls the net with 33 blocks, while McKinley Roach has 24.
About North Carolina Central
North Carolina Central enters the weekend 4-12 overall and 1-3 in the MEAC after falling to Morgan State (3-2) and Coppin State (3-1) last weekend.
Senior outside hitter Kamren Harper leads NCCU with 212 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Leanna Beaty follows with 111, and Makenzi Searcy has 77. Setter Manuela Cripa Nasser paces the offense with 519 assists. Loren Johnson leads the team in aces with 22, followed by Cripa Nasser with 13 and Beaty with 12.
Johnson anchors the defense with 224 digs, with Nira Joldic (127), Cripa Nasser (124) and Searcy (101) also contributing. At the net, Allyson Rouse leads the Eagles with 31 blocks, followed by Beaty (28) and Jenelle Mason (27).
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