RADFORD, Va. — Norfolk State took the first two sets and twice stood a point away from a three-set sweep, but Chattanooga rallied for a 3-2 win (15-25, 24-26, 28-26, 27-25, 15-6) on Saturday afternoon at the Donald N. Dedmon Center to close out the Spartans' weekend at Radford.
Kyleigh Moore and Gabrielle Gilbert each finished with 20.5 points. Moore posted a match-high 19 kills at .261, while Gilbert added 18 kills and 10 digs for a double-double. Briana Ellis served a match-high six aces.
Norfolk State (3-9) out-killed Chattanooga (5-7) 62-60 and out-aced the Mocs 12-11 across five sets, but was out-blocked 12.0-6.0 and finished at .194 to Chattanooga's .223.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 (NSU 25-15): The Spartans opened with four straight points on a Gilbert kill and a Gilbert ace and never trailed, building leads of 12-6 and 21-12. Norfolk State hit .429 in the frame with a single attack error.
Set 2 (NSU 26-24): Down 22-18, the Spartans scored five in a row, a Moore kill, an Ava Berry block and back-to-back Chattanooga attack errors, to go ahead 23-22. Norfolk State saved a set point at 24-23, then won it on a Jazeli Vandenburgh ace and a Moore kill.
Set 3 (UTC 28-26): Trailing 15-10, Norfolk State climbed back with Ellis at the service line, where she delivered four points and two aces to tie the set at 21. The Spartans reached set point twice, leading 25-24 on an Isis Castille kill and 26-25 on an Ellis kill, but the Mocs answered each time and closed it on kills by Gracie Rose and Elena Vukmanov.
Set 4 (UTC 27-25): Norfolk State again grabbed the early edge, going up 8-3 on a Reagan Chisholm-Moore block and a Jasmine Mataira ace, and later leading 13-9. Ryan Oden served three consecutive aces to pull Chattanooga within 10-9, and the Mocs eventually forced a fifth set in extra points.
Set 5 (UTC 15-6): Chattanooga closed the match with six kills on eight swings without an error.
SPARTAN STANDOUTS
Berry was efficient in the middle with five kills on six errorless attempts (.833) and four blocks, and Chisholm hit .417 with seven kills. Vandenburgh anchored the back row with 17 digs and two aces. Nehir Erimez and Mataira combined for 46 assists, with Erimez recording 24 and Mataira 22.
Rose led Chattanooga with 16 kills and 18.5 points. Vukmanov added 12 kills and 14 digs, Kynli Kirkendoll had 11 kills, and Bailey Burgess hit .375 with eight kills and seven block involvements. Caiti Barthel led all players with 19 digs.
UP NEXT
Norfolk State opens MEAC play at home next weekend, hosting Morgan State at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and Coppin State at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, in Gill Gymnasium.
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