NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State volleyball team returns home for a pair of midweek matches this week, hosting Old Dominion on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and Hampton in the "Battle of the Bay" on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Both matches are set for 6 p.m. with Old Dominion playing in Echols Hall, while NSU and Hampton will play in Gill Gymnasium.
MATCH INFORMATION
Vs. Old Dominion | Tuesday, Sept. 1 | 6 p.m. | Echols Hall
Vs. Hampton | Wednesday, Sept. 2 | 6 p.m. | Gill Gymnasium
Fans can purchase tickets for both matches through the Norfolk State athletics ticket office. Fans can also follow the action through live stats on the Norfolk State athletics website.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Norfolk State enters the week with a 1-1 record after competing in the Quest for the Crown Tournament. The Spartans opened the season with a 3-1 loss to USC Upstate before earning a 3-1 victory over Elon the following day.
Gabrielle Gilbert leads the Spartans with 27 kills and a .238 hitting percentage this season. She also sits just 39 kills away from becoming Norfolk State's all-time leader in career kills.
Kyleigh Moore ranks second on the team with 26 kills, while
Jasmine Mataira leads the Spartans with seven service aces.
Briana Ellis follows with six aces.
Jazeli Vandenburgh leads the Spartans with 39 digs, followed by Moore and
Nehir Erimez with 14 digs each.
Ava Berry leads Norfolk State at the net with 10 blocks, while Ellis has eight.
ABOUT THE MONARCHS
Old Dominion enters Tuesday's matchup with a 1-2 record after competing in the Quest for the Crown Tournament. The Monarchs opened the season with a 3-2 loss to USC Upstate before defeating St. John's, 3-2, and falling to Elon, 3-1.
Leilani Lawarence leads the Monarchs with 64 kills and a .217 hitting percentage this season. She also leads the team with 13 service aces through three matches. Elisa Maggi follows with 37 kills, while Rita Benidio ranks third with 26 kills.
Ashlyn Gent leads the ODU defense with 39 digs, followed by Lawarence with 30 and Maggi with 21. At the net, Emma DiRocco leads the Monarchs with 10 blocks, while Emma Schelah and Maggi each have nine.
ABOUT THE PIRATES
Hampton enters Wednesday's matchup with a 1-2 record after competing in the East Carolina Tournament. The Pirates opened the season with a sweep of Bethune-Cookman before falling to Radford, 3-2, and East Carolina, 3-0.
Racquel Frazier leads the Pirates with 38 kills and a .214 hitting percentage. Katerina Pappa follows with 36 kills, while Nikola Jaroszewicz has 29. Frazier also leads Hampton with six service aces, while Lillian Campbell has five.
Frazier leads the Pirates defensively with 34 digs, followed by Ana Luiza Caminha Matos with 31 and Dila Derendeli with 29. Janiah Robinson leads Hampton at the net with five blocks, followed by Jaroszewicz with four.
SERIES HISTORY VS. OLD DOMINION
Norfolk State is 0-3 all-time against Old Dominion. The two teams last met during the 2023 season, when the Monarchs swept the Spartans at ODU. Tuesday's matchup marks just the second time in program history that Old Dominion has visited Echols Hall.
SERIES HISTORY VS. HAMPTON
Hampton leads the all-time series against Norfolk State, 62-20. The Spartans defeated the Pirates twice last season, winning 3-0 and 3-1. Hampton's last victory in the series came during the 2022 season, when the Pirates defeated the Spartans in five sets at Gill Gymnasium.
UP NEXT
The Spartans return to action at home Tuesday, Sept. 8, against William & Mary. First serve is set for 6:30 p.m. at Echols Hall.
For complete coverage of Norfolk State Athletics, follow the Spartans on social media at @nsuspartans (X/Twitter), /NorfolkStateAthletics (Facebook), @NSUAthletics (Instagram) and @nsuathletics (YouTube), or visit the official home of Norfolk State Athletics at nsuspartans.com.
