Dover, Del. (Nov. 10, 2013) --- Delaware State won the first set, but dropped the last three in a MEAC North loss to Norfolk State in the season finale for the Hornets in Memorial Hall this afternoon. The Spartans needed extra play to win games three and four.
The match scores were 23-25, 25-20, 26-24, 26-24.
Delaware State started strong, winning game one behind six kills by Jessica Croucher, who was playing her final collegiate contest. Fellow senior Sonya Inderbitzen had four digs in the Hornets' game one win.
There were nine ties in game one. The score was 22-22 when Natalia Mendieta fed Croucher for a kill to give DSU the lead for good. The Hornets opened up a 24-22 lead on a Norfolk State error. Delaware State wrapped up the set on a service error by the Spartans.
Game two was tied for the eighth time (11-11) before Norfolk State took control. The Spartans ran off the next seven points to open up an 18-11 lead. The Hornets could get no closer than four points the rest of the set.
In game three, Delaware State fell behind 13-7 before storming back. The Hornets scored 10 of the next 12 points, and opened up a 17-15 lead on a Norfolk State error. Croucher had a kill and service ace during the DSU run. The Spartans were a point away from winning game three when Jasmine Jackson had a kill for the Hornets to tie the set at 24-24. Norfolk State scored the next two points to take and game and open up a 2-1 lead in the match.
The Hornets trailed 6-1 in game four before battling back. DSU took its first lead of the game 20-19 on a kill by Jasmine Jackson.
The Hornets led 24-23 when Norfolk State took the next point to tie the game. The Spartans won the next two points to win the set and match.
Norfolk State's Goda Jankauskaite tied for match-high honors with 15 kills to lead four Spartans players with 10-or-more winners.
Delaware State's Edarkis Branch also had 15 kills to lead the Hornets. Croucher had 13 kills for Delaware State to close out her career with 945 to rank third in team history.
Norfolk State had a .238 hitting percentage in the match (64 kills/30 errors/143 attempts), compared to .186 for DSU (43/19/129).
The Hornets closed out the 2013 season with a 2-22 overall record and 0-12 mark in the MEAC. Norfolk State improved to 11-17 and 7-5.
