ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State delivered a spirited performance Friday night, pushing Norfolk State to five sets before falling 3-2 (26-24, 8-25, 16-25, 25-23, 10-15) in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference women's volleyball action at Dukes Gymnasium.
The Bulldogs (6-22 overall, 1-11 MEAC) showed resilience throughout the contest, capturing the opening set and rallying in the fourth to force a decisive fifth set against the Spartans (10-15, 6-6 MEAC).
Jessika Martinez and
Carra Pierre-Louis led SC State's offensive attack with 12 kills apiece, while
Arianna James directed the offense with a team-high 27 assists, five kills and two service aces.
SC State opened the match with an impressive offensive showing, recording 19 kills and a .375 hitting percentage in the first set. The Bulldogs battled through 14 ties before securing a 26-24 victory to take an early 1-0 advantage.
Norfolk State responded by winning the next two sets, 25-8 and 25-16, to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
Refusing to go away quietly, the Bulldogs regrouped in the fourth set and delivered another strong offensive performance. SC State registered 13 kills while hitting .300, taking the set 25-23 to even the match at two sets apiece.
In the decisive fifth set, Norfolk State capitalized on late opportunities to secure a 15-10 victory and escape Orangeburg with the conference win.
Despite the setback, SC State demonstrated offensive balance and defensive determination, finishing with 55 kills, 47 assists, 47 digs and nine team blocks.
Norfolk State was led by Gabrielle Gilbert, who recorded a match-high 19 kills, while Kyleigh Moore added 13 kills. Jasmine Mataira distributed a match-high 51 assists to help the Spartans secure the victory.
SC State statistical highlights
- Jessika Martinez: Tied for the team lead with 12 kills, a .211 hitting percentage and 13.5 points.
- Carra Pierre-Louis: Finished with 12 kills, two digs and 12.5 points.
- Arianna James: Recorded a team-high 27 assists, five kills, seven digs and two service aces while posting a .667 hitting percentage.
- Kenna Harris: Contributed nine kills, three block assists and 10.5 points.
- Jade Robinson: Added five kills and a team-high seven block assists.
- Macey McCoy: Distributed 14 assists while adding six digs, two kills and one service ace.
- Ki'ra Wright: Led the Bulldogs defensively with a team-high 18 digs, four assists and one service ace.
- De'Oni McPhearson: Contributed five kills and three block assists.
The match featured 27 ties and seven lead changes, highlighting the competitive nature of the five-set conference battle.
SC State finished with a .149 team hitting percentage, while Norfolk State posted a .297 mark. The Bulldogs also recorded four service aces.
Although the Bulldogs came up short, their ability to win two tightly contested sets and force a fifth set provided a strong example of their determination in MEAC competition.
ABOUT SC STATE ATHLETICS
South Carolina State University sponsors 16 NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletic programs and competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).
#WeAreSCState | #BulldogTenacity
