title image via Nick Sutton
Maya Dawson, Asst. Director of Sports Communications
0
SH
3
Winner Norf
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SH | 25 | 21 | 18 | (0) |
| Norf | 27 | 25 | 25 | (3) |
Norfolk State volleyball head coach Kathy Bullock eclipsed her 400th career victory on Friday in the straight set victory over Sacred Heart in the Buc Dome Invitational in Charleston, S.C.
Entering her sixth season at Norfolk State, Bullock’s 400 wins spans 31 years and five programs. Bullock’s win totals across the span of her career include Greensboro College (14), Norfolk State (31), Tennessee State (177), North Carolina A&T (162), and Winston-Salem (16).
Led by Jordan Lyons, the Spartans defeated the Pioneers of Sacred Heart, 3-0, in the first game of the invitational. Lyons hit .611, totaling 11 kills, nine digs, a solo block and no attacking errors.
The first set consisted of 15 ties and six lead changes as both teams battled for the first win of the game. Kills by Lyons and Gabrielle GIlbert gave the Spartans a 25-24 lead.
A Norfolk State service error tied it at 25-25, but a service error and a kill by Gilbert secured the Spartans an early one set lead over the Pioneers behind a 27-25 first set victory.
A 6-0 run helped the Spartans garner a two set lead over the Pioneers. In the run, Sydney McCreeposted a kill and a block assist. McCree finished with 26 assists, five digs, four kills, two aces, and one block assist.
The Spartans won set two 25-21.
McCree’s huge two service aces started an early run at the beginning of the set to vault the Spartans to an easy 25-18 win.
The Spartans fell 3-0 in game two of the invitational to Western Illinois (5-5) in the first ever meeting between the two programs.
GIlbert tallied 15 kills for her ninth double-digit kill performance of the season to lead the team with 155 total. McCree collected 31 assists against the Leathernecks.
In the first set against Western Illinois, the Spartans went on a 7-0 run sparked by Lyons. Lyons collected two kills in the run, GIlbert added one kill herself, as Lily Rose-Pichon tallied a service ace to put the Spartans up 20-18.
The tandem of McCree and Gilbert brought the Spartans within position to capture the second set from the Leathernecks as they tied the score at 24-24.
Unfortunately, the Spartans fell in the set two after consecutive kills by the Leathernecks won them the set 26-24.
Norfolk State fell 25-17 in the second set after a hot start by the Leathernecks which they carried into the third set. They took an early lead in the third set, but the Spartans had an answer.
A 5-0 run tied the score at 7-7 as the Spartans gave their everything to the Leathernecks.
Down 24-18, the Spartans never waivered, tallying three back-to-back points to close the distance.
McCree assisted on a kill from Gilbert, tallied a block assist with Reagan Chisholm, and grabbed a kill from Lily Rose-Pichon to put the Spartans at 24-21 in set three.
The Spartans fell in the third set 25-21 to the Leathernecks..
Gilbert finished with 15 kills and five digs against Western Illinois. McCree tallied 31 assists, six digs, three kills, two service aces, and two block assists.
Checking The Box Score
- Jordan Lyons notched 11 kills, nine digs, and no attack errors against Sacred Heart
- Gilbert tallied double-digit kills in both games: 11 against Sacred Heart and 15 against Western Illinois
- McCree posted 31 assists, seven kills, and three digs against Western Illinois
News & Notes
- Norfolk State and Sacred Heart competed for the second time in program history on Friday
- The Spartans even the all-time series against the Pioneers with the 3-0 win
- Norfolk State faced Western Illinois for the first time in program history on Friday
- The Leathernecks take the first win of the series over the Spartans in the 3-0 victory
UP NEXT
Day two of the Buc Dome Invitational slates Norfolk State versus Charleston Southern at 1 p.m.
