NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State volleyball team will kick off the 2026 regular season with matches against USC Upstate and Elon apart of the Quest for the Crown Tournament, co-hosted by NSU and Old Dominion.
 
The Spartans will host USC Upstate at 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28 at Echols Hall, before traveling across town for a neutral site matchup at 11 a.m. against Elon at the ODU Jim Jarrett Athletic Building.
 
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Norfolk State enters the 2026 season looking to build on last year's campaign while welcoming a talented mix of returning players and newcomers. The Spartans return five seniors in Briana Ellis, Gabrielle Gilbert, Catori Crawford, Kaden Sanders and Jala Dixon.

Gilbert returns as one of Norfolk State's top offensive threats after leading the Spartans with 407 kills last season while posting a .200 attacking percentage. She enters the 2026 season just 66 kills shy of breaking Norfolk State's all-time career kills record.

Junior Reagan Chisholm also returns after leading the Spartans with a .338 attacking percentage last season, while Ava Berry returns after pacing the team with 83 blocks. Norfolk State also welcomes seven newcomers to the 2026 roster, including six transfers and one freshman.
 
ABOUT USC UPSTATE
USC Upstate was picked third in the 2026 Big South Preseason Poll, after finishing last season 14-14 overall (7-7 BigSouth).
The Spartans earned three spots on the Big South Preseason team, including Preseason Libero of the Year Sophia Overholt, Preseason Co-Setter of the Year Kamyla Vega David, and Summer Kohler.
 
Kohler led USC Upstate last season in kills with 383 on a .188 attacking percentage. Vega David paced the offense with 1,120 sets, while Overholt led the defense with 465 digs.
 
As a team, the Spartans held a .208 attacking percentage, while also producing 181 total blocks on the season.
 
ABOUT ELON
Elon will look to improve off of last season's 7-20 campaign (5-11 CAA). The Phoenix were selected to finish ninth in this season's CAA preseason poll.
 
Junior middle blocker Catherine Rucker was named a 2026 Preseason All-CAA Honorable mention, marking her second straight season on the list. She tallied the second most kills among Elon returners with 131, averaging 1.46 kills per set. She also led the Phoenix with 30 service aces and 63 total blocks.
 
As a team, the Phoenix held a .164 attacking percentage, while recording 13.4 digs per set, 1.8 blocks per set and a total of 177.5 blocks on the season.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS USC UPSTATE
USC Upstate is 2-0 all-time against Norfolk State. The last meeting came in the 2018 season, when USC Upstate picked up a five set win over NSU.
 
SERIES HISTORY VS ELON
Elon is 8-0 all time against the Spartans. The last meeting came in the 2024 season when the Phoenix defeated the Spartans 3-1.
 
TICKETS
Tickets for Friday's match at Echols Hall are available now by visiting nsuspartanstickets.universitytickets.com.
 
UP NEXT
The Spartans will return to Echols Hall against Old Dominion on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m., before hosting Hampton at Gill Gymnasium at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m.

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