Old Dominion (1-2) at Norfolk State (1-1)
Match Info – Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.
Location – Gill Gymnasium (Norfolk, Va.)
Live Stats – Click Here
NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion volleyball has its first road test of the season this Tuesday when the Monarchs head across town for a 6 p.m. match at Norfolk State.
Fans unable to attend the match in person will be able to follow along with live stats.
The Series
Tuesday’s match will mark just the fourth meeting between the two programs. ODU leads the all-time series, 3-0, and has won each match against the Spartans in straight sets.
The Monarchs and Spartans last played each other on Aug. 26, 2023 in the third annual Quest for the Crown. Bryanna Jones and Elisa Maggi led the offense with 15 and 10 kills, respectively. Teresa Atilano contributed 36 assists and three blocks, and Ashlynn Belcher posted a team-high eight digs. ODU edged NSU by set scores of 25-9, 29-27, and 25-17.
About ODU
The Monarchs (1-2) opened the 2026 season by hosting the sixth annual Quest for the Crown this past weekend. On Friday, the team fell in five sets to USC Upstate in the morning, but bounced back with a 3-2 win over St. John’s (N.Y.) that night. ODU then dropped its final match of the tournament, 3-1 to Elon on Saturday night.
On offense, first year outside hitter Leilani Lawrence had a breakout collegiate debut. The Tampa, Florida native finished with 64 kills (4.67 per set), the most kills in the Sun Belt in the first week. She also broke three program records, serving seven aces in the match against the Spartans and then tallying 30 kills and 32 points in the win over the Red Storm.
Maggi was next in kills with 37 (2.64 per set), and Rita Benidio is third on the team with 26 (2.36 per set). First year setter Erica Duffy had 78 assists (6.5 per set) and followed Lawrence with four aces, and Kyra Hampton is up to 31 assists (5.17 per set).
Defensively, libero Ashlyn Gent and Lawrence own 39 and 30 digs, respectively. First year middle blocker Emma DiRocco made 10 blocks in the Quest for the Crown, including two solo blocks, while Emma Schelah and Maggi followed with nine blocks each.
About Norfolk State
The Spartans (1-1) hosted USC Upstate on Friday and fell, 3-1 in their season opener. NSU then secured its first victory with a 3-1 decision against Elon on Saturday afternoon at the ODU Volleyball Center.
Outside hitter Gabrielle Gilbert and opposite hitter Kyleigh Moore are the go-to options on offense, the pair having combined for 53 kills through the team’s first two matches. Nehir Erimez (39 assists) and Jasmine Mataira (30 assists) have split time at setter, with Mataira serving a team-high seven aces and middle blocker Briana Ellis right behind her with six.
A defensive specialist and libero, Jazeli Vandenburgh paces the Spartans’ back line with 39 digs (4.88 per set). Middle blocker Ava Berry leads the team at the net with 10 blocks (six solo), and Ellis is second with eight blocks.
NSU was picked to finish sixth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) preseason poll after finishing 5-24 overall and 3-11 in league play last season. Gilbert was named to the Preseason All-MEAC Team after earning All-MEAC First Team honors a year ago. Head coach Kathy Bullock is in her eighth season leading the program and is 415-544 in her time at Norfolk State.
Up Next
The Monarchs will travel to Rock Hill, South Carolina this weekend to play in the Winthrop Invitational. ODU begins the tournament this Friday with a 6 p.m. match versus Virginia Tech, and the Silver & Blue will then take the court against the tournament hosts on Saturday at 2 p.m.