NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk State closes out non-conference play Wednesday night with the second "Battle of the Bay" meeting of the season, traveling to Holland Hall to face rival Hampton at 6 p.m.
The Spartans won the first meeting on Sept. 2 at Gill Gymnasium, outlasting the Pirates in five sets (25-22, 17-25, 25-19, 26-28, 15-8) in front of a raucous home crowd. Norfolk State has now won three straight in the series after sweeping the 2025 season series.
LAST TIME OUT
Norfolk State dropped its MEAC home opening weekend, falling to Morgan State in four sets on Friday and to Coppin State in three on Sunday. The Spartans led late in the fourth set against the Bears, going ahead 23-22 before Morgan State closed the match on three straight kills.
Kyleigh Moore led Norfolk State with eight kills at .375 against Coppin State, while Gabrielle Gilbert had 12 kills, four aces and eight digs against Morgan State. Jazeli Vandenburgh posted 20 digs in the Morgan State match.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Gilbert became Norfolk State's all-time career kills leader on Sept. 11 at UNC Wilmington, passing the 1,177 kills Charlotte Armstead compiled from 2009-12. The senior earned all-tournament honors at both the UNCW Invitational and the Radford tournament, totaling 84 kills across the two weekends.
Jasmine Mataira and Nehir Erimez have shared setting duties, while Vandenburgh anchors the back row. Reagan Chisholm, Ava Berry and Jala Dixon have led the Spartans at the net during a stretch in which Norfolk State has held the blocking advantage in several matches.
THE FIRST MEETING
Norfolk State piled up 55 kills, 13 blocks and 25 service aces in the Sept. 2 win. Gilbert led the way with 20 kills and Moore added 13, while Isis Castille, Catori Crawford and Berry contributed six apiece. Erimez handed out 24 assists and Mataira added 17.
ABOUT HAMPTON
The Pirates, who compete in the Coastal Athletic Association, have been led offensively this season by Katerina Pappa, Racquel Frazier and Nikola Jaroszewicz. Pappa posted 17 kills in the first meeting with Norfolk State, with Frazier adding 14 and Jaroszewicz 11. Ana Luiza Caminha Matos runs the Hampton offense at setter.
UP NEXT
Norfolk State returns to MEAC play and to Gill Gymnasium on Friday, Oct. 2, hosting Maryland Eastern Shore at 6 p.m.
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