WILMINGTON, N.C. — Norfolk State senior Gabrielle Gilbert was named to the all-tournament team at the UNCW Hampton Inn University Invitational, the host school announced following Saturday's finale at Hanover Hall.
Gilbert piled up 38 kills across the three-match weekend, averaging 3.45 per set, and added 19 digs, four service aces and 43.5 points. She posted 16 kills against host UNC Wilmington, 15 against Harvard and seven in Saturday's finale against UNC Asheville.
The weekend also delivered the defining moment of her career. Gilbert broke Norfolk State's all-time career kills record in Friday's opener against the Seahawks, passing the 1,177 kills Charlotte Armstead compiled from 2009-12. She tied the mark in the first set with a kill that pulled the Spartans within 11-8, then claimed it outright on a Jazeli Vandenburgh set to even the frame at 14-14.
She closed the weekend with 1,214 career kills.
2026 UNCW HAMPTON INN UNIVERSITY INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
- Ryleigh Patterson, Harvard (MVP)
- Kayla Nwabueze, Harvard
- Sarah Wadsworth, UNC Asheville
- Izzy Perkins, UNC Asheville
- Gaby Zovko, UNC Wilmington
- Gabrielle Gilbert, Norfolk State
Norfolk State returns to action Tuesday, Sept. 15, when the Spartans host Bowie State in Gill Gymnasium at 6 p.m.
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