Norfolk State University Athletics

NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State volleyball team earned its first win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Elon on Saturday afternoon at the ODU Volleyball Center, winning 25-23, 26-28, 30-28 and 25-14 to close out the Quest for the Crown Tournament.
 

Norfolk State improved to 1-1 on the season, while Elon fell to 1-1. The Spartans finished with 54 kills, 10 blocks and 17 service aces while hitting .310 as a team.
 

Gabrielle Gilbert led Norfolk State with 15 kills while hitting .433. Kyleigh Moore added 12 kills, while Ava Berry and Catori Crawford each finished with six. Jasmine Mataira directed the offense with 19 assists, while Nehir Erimez added 22 assists. Jazeli Vandenburgh led the Spartans defensively with 26 digs.
 

Norfolk State overcame an early 6-2 deficit and took control with a 10-5 run to move ahead 12-11. Elon later tied the set at 14-14, but the Spartans regained the lead and held off a late Phoenix rally. Kills from Moore and Briana Ellis helped Norfolk State close out the opening set 25-23.
 

Norfolk State built an early 5-2 lead and maintained the advantage through the middle of the set before Elon tied the score at 14-14. The Spartans responded with a three-point run to take a 17-14 lead, but Elon battled back to force extra points. The teams traded points late before Elon scored the final two points to win 28-26 and tie the match.
 

After Elon opened the set with a 3-0 lead, Norfolk State answered with a 3-0 run to tie the score before taking an 11-9 advantage. Elon later took a 20-19 lead, but the Spartans responded with three straight points to move ahead 22-20. After the teams traded points into extra points, Norfolk State used a block from Berry and Crawford, followed by an ace from Vandenburgh, to take the set 30-28.
 

Elon took an early 2-0 lead before Norfolk State answered and took its first lead at 4-3. The Spartans then pulled away with a 7-0 run to build an 11-6 advantage and continued to extend the lead throughout the set. Norfolk State closed the match with a 25-14 victory after holding Elon to just 14 points.
 

UP NEXT

Norfolk State returns home next week to take on Old Dominion on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m. at Echols Hall.
 

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