Norfolk State’s volleyball (3-6) defeated the South Carolina State Bulldogs (0-15). The Spartans won the match taking 3 out of 4 sets played. This win puts the Spartans firmly in the driver seat against the Bulldogs with a 7-match win streak since 2018.
“The girls learned a lot today and they’re just learning what they need to do every step of the way,” said NSU Volleyball Head Coach, Kathy Bullock.
NSU started the first set 3-0 with a service ace by setter Sydney McCree, a kill by middle blocker Grace Smith, and an attacking error on the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs got their first point of the set from a kill by outside hitter Shamira Andrews.
The two teams tied four times in this set, alternating taking the lead. The Spartans went on multiple scoring runs, spacing the score out and taking the set 25-18.
“We’re everybody’s rival because the program has been down for so long, so we have to fight every time we play any team,” Coach Bullock said.
The Bulldogs started the second set with the lead after multiple attacking errors on the Spartans. Soon after, the Bulldogs had their own attacking error, giving the Spartans their first point of the second set.
Spartan’s outside hitters Gabrielle Gilbert and Shonte Seale had multiple kills in this set, followed by kills from Bulldog’s outside hitters Kiyah Felder, Eleisha Thompson and one from setter Kaia Barnett.
The teams battled for the set, having rallies back-to-back, and keeping the set close in score. The Spartans finally took the lead, ending the set 25-23.
The third set started off with a service ace by McCree and a kill by Seale. The Bulldogs first point of the set was a kill by Andrews. Both teams scored evenly in the beginning of the set, with the Spartans going on two 3-0 runs and the Bulldogs going on two 4-0 runs.
The last set picked up for the Bulldogs when they went on an 8-0 run. This included kills by Felder and middle blocker Hailey Harris, as well as multiple attacking errors on the Spartans, which led to the Bulldogs winning the third set 16-25.
“I thought we were a little sluggish. We came out okay and we were playing our game, but for some reason in the 2nd set, we took our foot off the gas, and I felt like we started to get a little complacent,” Coach Bullock said.
The Bulldogs got the first point of the fourth set with a kill by Felder. The Spartans got their first point in the next play from a service error on the Bulldogs, with a kill by Smith right after.
The set was in the Bulldogs favor, having a five-point lead over the Spartans with the score 17-12. The Spartans closed the gap and took over the game going on a 7-0 run, winning the set and the game 25-22.
Gilbert had 15 kills and 5 aces, Seale had 10 kills and 14 digs, and McCree had 33 assists and 4 aces. Middle blocker Adlene Jideofor had 8 kills and 5 blocks with libero Fabiana Mucciola having 15 digs.
Felder had 15 kills with Thompson right behind with 12 kills. Harris had 10 kills and 5 blocks, and Barnett had 30 assists and 15 digs.
“We’re going to be working really hard, making sure we have some energy. We’re going to bring everything to the table,” Coach Bullock said.
The Spartans take on the Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks (8-6) at 6:00 p.m. on September 29. The game is being held at the Hutch Athletic Center in Princess Anne, Maryland.
Spartan Echo 