BALTIMORE, Md. — The Norfolk State volleyball team dropped its MEAC Quarterfinal matchup to No. 2 seed Howard in straight sets on Thursday, falling 25-15, 25-15, 25-20.
 
Norfolk State finished the season 5-26, while Howard advanced to the semifinals at 17-10.
 
Gabrielle Gilbert led the Spartans with 10 kills. Jasmine Mataira directed the offense with 15 assists, and Mary Nahinu posted a team-high nine digs. Mataira added eight digs, while Reagan Chisholm and Jala Dixon each recorded three blocks.
 
Howard opened the first set with a 5-2 lead, but Norfolk State took advantage of early Bison errors to move ahead 7-6. The Bison responded with four straight points and continued to build momentum after a timeout, eventually pulling away to take the set 25-15.
 
Norfolk State grabbed a 6-4 edge early in the second set, but Howard surged back with a 10-2 run to go up 15-8. A block by Gilbert and Chisholm pulled NSU back within six, but Howard answered with a 6-0 spurt. Isis Castille ended the run with a kill, but the Bison closed out the frame 25-15.
 
Howard scored the first three points of the third set before NSU tied the score on back-to-back blocks and a Bison service error. The Bison rebuilt their lead to 9-5 until a Gilbert kill halted the run. Dixon and Mataira added a block to bring NSU within 13-8.
 
The Spartans battled late, using a 5-1 run, capped by a Chisholm kill to cut the deficit to three. Howard answered with back-to-back points to force an NSU timeout at 20-16. The teams traded points down the stretch, but Howard secured the set and the match 25-20.
 
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