BALTIMORE, Md. --- The Norfolk State volleyball team travels to Baltimore this weekend to open MEAC play, facing Morgan State on Friday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. and Coppin State on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 1 p.m.
Norfolk State (1-12) was picked to finish fourth in the MEAC this season. Morgan State (3-7) was selected sixth, while Coppin State (6-9) came in third.
About Norfolk State
The Spartans earned their first win of the 2025 season on Tuesday evening, sweeping Hampton 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-20) in the "Battle of the Bay."
Junior outside hitter
Gabrielle Gilbert leads NSU with 156 kills and a .193 hitting percentage. Senior setter
Sydney McCree has dished out 298 assists. At the service line, Gilbert (12),
Mary Nahinu (12),
Mya Wood (12), and
Briana Ellis (10) have provided consistent production.
On defense, Nahinu leads the team in digs with 113, followed by Wood (112) and McCree (92).
Ava Berry paces the Spartans at the net with 42 blocks, while
Reagan Chisholm (24), Gilbert (21), and
Isis Castille (16) add support.
Record Watch
McCree ranks third all-time at NSU with 2,404 career assists, just 20 shy of Nicole Kessner's 2,424. Darcy Moore (2012-15) holds the program record with 3,195. McCree has also entered the top 15 in career digs, tied for 14th with Abaina Farrell (2005-07) at 584.
Gilbert moved into fourth place in all-time kills with 861. She trails Kim Mumford (1992-95), who is third with 937. Charlotte Armstead (2009-12) holds the program record with 1,177. Gilbert also ranks fourth in career attacks with 2,285.
About Morgan State
Morgan State enters Friday's match 3-7, coming off a 3-1 loss to Saint Peter's on Sept. 19 (20-25, 20-25, 25-18, 21-25).
Senior outside hitter Daniela Ferreira leads the Bears with 93 kills and a team-best .253 hitting percentage. Hannah Nemeth has added 79 kills and Jada Williams 77. Setter Isabelle Brown directs the offense with 220 assists. At the service line, Mya Karrick (11), Williams (10), and Brown (10) pace the team.
Defensively, Nemeth leads MSU with 75 digs, followed by Tameary Wardlaw (67) and Brown (51). Williams leads the Bears at the net with 25 blocks, and Aubrey Wilson follows with 17.
About Coppin State
Coppin State enters the weekend 6-9 after a 3-1 loss at Seton Hall on Sept. 20 (26-24, 19-25, 20-25, 14-25).
Redshirt senior TaKenya Stafford leads the Eagles with 206 kills and a .250 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Cherisse Atilano has tallied 152 kills. Setter Andra Cintron paces CSU with 233 assists, followed by Andrea Serrano (196) and Azul Pilahg (137). Stafford also shares the team lead in service aces with 17, tied with Atilano. Coco Figeroa has added 14.
Figeroa anchors the defense with 298 digs, followed by Stafford (144) and Atilano (129). At the net, Kayden Cupid leads the Eagles with 38 blocks, while Stafford has added 20.
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