Norfolk State University Athletics

NORFOLK, Va. --- The Norfolk State volleyball team fell to Old Dominion 3-0 on Tuesday night at Echols Hall, dropping the match 25-20, 25-14 and 25-22.
 
Norfolk State moved to 1-2 on the season, while Old Dominion improved to 2-2. The Spartans finished with 29 kills, five service aces and six team blocks.
 
Gabrielle Gilbert led Norfolk State with seven kills, while Kyleigh Moore and Isis Castille each added five. Castille hit .444 on nine attacks, while Nehir Erimez directed the offense with 17 assists. Jazeli Vandenburgh paced the Spartans with eight digs.
 
Norfolk State jumped out to a 3-0 lead behind kills from Moore and Castille before Old Dominion answered with a 3-0 run to tie the set. The teams battled through several ties before the Spartans built a 15-12 advantage. ODU responded with a 9-1 run to take a 21-16 lead and controlled the set from there. The Spartans cut the deficit to 24-20 late, but the Monarchs closed the opening set 25-20.
 
Norfolk State opened the second set with a 2-0 lead after a kill from Ava Berry, but Old Dominion quickly erased the deficit. The Spartans stayed within striking distance early, trailing 8-6, before the Monarchs used a 7-1 run to take control. ODU extended its advantage to 20-13 and finished the set with five of the final six points to take a 2-0 lead.
 
The Spartans again started quickly, taking a 6-4 lead after Briana Ellis recorded a kill and service ace during the early run. Old Dominion answered with a 5-0 run and eventually built a 15-11 advantage. NSU continued to battle and used kills from Gilbert and Ellis to pull within 17-15. Gilbert then delivered back-to-back service aces as Norfolk State cut the deficit to 17-16.
 
The Spartans later tied the set at 20-20 following a kill from Catori Crawford and an Old Dominion attack error. The Monarchs regained the lead and scored five of the final seven points to secure the 25-22 victory and complete the sweep.
 
UP NEXT
Norfolk State will return to action tomorrow evening in the 'Battle of the Bay,' taking on Hampton at 6 p.m. in Gills Gymnasium.
 
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