Dover, Del. (Sep. 25, 2022) --- Delaware State's string of 19 straight home volleyball wins came to end with a 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) loss to Norfolk State today. The Spartans won the first set 26-24, took set two 25-21 and completed the sweep with a 25-21 victory in the third set.
Delaware State lost for just the second time in its last 13 matches to fall to 11-4 overall and 1-1 in the MEAC. Norfolk State improved to 2-10 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
This was the first loss at home for the Hornets since a 3-2 setback to Coppin State on Mar. 18, 2021 during the Covid-impacted 2020 season.
Norfolk State's Shonte Seale led all players with 13 kills on 24 attacks (.458), while teammate Carla Hernandez added 11 kills, to go along with six digs and two blocks for the Spartans.
Norfolk State's Sydney McCree had a match-high 33 assists.
Alondra Maldonado (jr.) and
Kelsie Dawson (so.) topped the Hornets with nine kills each, while Delaware State's
Jasmal Cruz (sr.) led all players with 15 digs in the match. Dawson's nine kills came on 17 attacks for a .412 hitting percentage in the contest.
In the first set, Delaware State took its first lead at 19-18 on a kill by
Daisy Ramos (fr.) off a feed from
Alayna Lacy (jr.).
The score was tied at 19, 20, 21, 22 and 24 before Norfolk State scored the last two points to claim the win.
Delaware State trailed 16-8 in the second set before scoring 11 of the next 14 points to get back into the game.
The Hornets capped of a 5-0 run with a kill by Dawson to tie the second set at 19.
Norfolk State answered by outscoring the Hornets 6-2 the rest of the set to claim the win.
The score was 15-15 in the third set before Norfolk State took seven of the next eight points to open up a 22-16 lead. The Hornets could get no closer than three points the rest of the set.
Delaware State tallied 37 kills and 22 errors on 106 attacks for a .142 hitting percentage. Norfolk State posted a .210 attack percentage, recording 38 kills and 16 errors on 105 attempts.
The Hornets are on the road for their next three matches, beginning with a visit to Maryland Eastern Shore on Thur. (Sep.29). DSU is also on the road to face North Carolina Central (Oct. 7) and South Carolina State (Oct. (9) before returning home against Morgan State on Oct. 14.
