NORFOLK, Va. — Outside hitter Gabrielle Gilbert etched her name into the Norfolk State volleyball record book on Friday, becoming the third Spartan to reach 1,000 career kills, as NSU fell to Maryland Eastern Shore in five sets (26-24, 24-26, 25-18, 7-25, 5-15).
 
Gilbert now sits tied for second in program history with Jessica Johnson (2012–14, '16) at 1,002 kills.
 
The Spartans dropped to 2-21 overall and 1-9 in MEAC play, while UMES improved to 9-14 (6-4 MEAC).
 
Gilbert led Norfolk State's attack with 16 kills, followed by Reagan Chisholm with seven. Jasmine Mataira dished out 36 assists, and Briana Ellis added four aces.
 
Defensively, Mary Nahinu recorded 15 digs, while Mya Wood added nine. Ava Berry and Jala Dixon led the block with six and three, respectively.
 
UMES opened the first set with an 8-6 lead before Norfolk State responded with back-to-back aces from Mataira. The Spartans built a six-point cushion after an Isis Castille kill, but the Hawks answered with a six-point run to take a 19-18 edge. The teams traded points until Dixon closed the set with an ace, giving NSU a 26-24 win.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore jumped ahead 5-1 in the second set and extended its lead to 14-8. Norfolk State battled back with a 9-3 run to tie the score at 17 after a Chisholm kill. The Hawks regained control late, taking the set 26-24.
 
The Spartans came out firing in the third set with a 6-0 run, capped by two Gilbert kills and one from Wood. UMES tied the score at nine and pulled ahead with a 7-2 run, but NSU rallied again with a 10-1 run to regain the lead at 21-17. The Spartans went on to take set three 25-18, scoring four of the last five points of the set.
 
UMES dominated the fourth set, racing to a 14-3 lead. Gilbert tried to spark a comeback with a pair of kills, but the Hawks finished strong, closing the set on a 7-0 run to force a fifth, 25-17.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore carried the momentum into the final frame, jumping out to an 11-3 lead. Norfolk State gained brief momentum off a pair of Hawk errors, but UMES sealed the match with a 4-0 run to take the fifth set 15-5.
 
Norfolk State returns to action on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Delaware State in Dover, Del. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.