ORANGEBURG, S.C. (Oct. 8, 2026) — The South Carolina State women's volleyball team returns to the road Friday (Oct. 9) for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup against Norfolk State at Gill Gymnasium in Norfolk, Virginia. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The Lady Bulldogs (4-15 overall, 0-4 MEAC), under the direction of interim head coach Chymaine Guinyard, will look to secure their first conference victory of the season against a Norfolk State squad that enters the contest with a 5-12 overall record and a 1-3 mark in league play.

South Carolina State enters Friday's matchup following a hard-fought five-set loss to Morgan State on Sunday (Oct. 4) at home. The Lady Bulldogs battled throughout the contest, winning the opening set 25-23 and the third set 25-21 before falling 15-13 in the decisive fifth set.

Despite the setback, SC State showed resilience and competitiveness against the Bears, providing momentum as the team continues conference play.

SC State Players to Watch
The Lady Bulldogs have received contributions from several players this season, including:

• Kenna Harris: Leads SC State offensively with 158 kills, averaging 2.36 kills per set.
• Amani Hawkins: Ranks second on the team with 140 kills and averages 2.22 kills per set.
• Ki'ra Wright: Has recorded 101 kills, a team-high 207 digs and 20 service aces.
• Taelyn Graham: Leads the team with a .249 hitting percentage among regular attackers and 39 total blocks while contributing 75 kills.
• Macey McCoy: Directs the offense with a team-high 268 assists, averaging 4.87 per set.
• Arianna James: Has contributed 214 assists and 85 digs, providing additional support in the Lady Bulldogs' offensive rotation.
• Jordan Dalland: Has collected 193 digs, averaging 2.80 per set, to strengthen the defensive effort.

As a team, South Carolina State has registered 744 kills, 679 assists, 940 digs and 97 service aces through 19 matches. The Lady Bulldogs are averaging 10.63 kills and 13.43 digs per set.

Scouting Norfolk State
Norfolk State enters Friday's contest looking to bounce back from a three-set conference loss at Delaware State on Sunday (Oct. 4).

The Spartans earned their first MEAC victory of the season with a four-set win over Maryland Eastern Shore on Oct. 2.

Norfolk State is led offensively by Gabrielle Gilbert, who has recorded a team-high 233 kills, averaging 3.70 kills per set, along with 33 service aces.

Kyleigh Moore has added 146 kills, while setter Jasmine Mataira has distributed 306 assists.

Defensively, Jazeli Vandenburgh leads the Spartans with 229 digs, while Ava Berry has registered a team-high 59 blocks.

Norfolk State has totaled 669 kills, 610 assists, 733 digs and 152 service aces this season. The Spartans are averaging 2.41 service aces and 2.13 blocks per set.

Friday's Matchup at a Glance

• Matchup: South Carolina State (4-15, 0-4 MEAC) at Norfolk State (5-12, 1-3 MEAC)
• Date: Friday, Oct. 9, 2026
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Gill Gymnasium, Norfolk, Va.
• Conference: Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
• SC State Head Coach: Chymaine Guinyard (interim)
• SC State Last Match: Lost to Morgan State, 3-2
• Norfolk State Last Match: Lost to Delaware State, 3-0

Keys to the Match
South Carolina State will look to establish offensive consistency behind Harris and Hawkins while relying on Wright and Dalland to anchor the back-row defense.
The Lady Bulldogs will also need to limit Norfolk State's effectiveness at the service line and improve their blocking presence against a Spartans team averaging more than two blocks per set.
Friday's matchup presents another opportunity for SC State to build on its competitive showing against Morgan State and gain momentum in MEAC competition.
For more information and updates on South Carolina State women's volleyball, visit www.scsuathletics.com.
— SC STATE ATHLETICS —