*** NSU's matches at the Asics Invitational for this weekend have been cancelled ***
Following a successful 2010 season in which the Spartans posted their best record ever in the Division I era, the Norfolk State volleyball team has begun to assemble the necessary pieces to make a serious run toward a MEAC title in 2011.
Interim Head Coach Brandon Duvall is back for his second season after leading NSU to a 13-20 overall record last year, including a 5-3 conference mark. Duvall helped guide the Spartans to their best conference finish ever – third in the Southern Division – and was rewarded with the MEAC Coach of the Year Award.
With a roster of 17 players, including nine returning letterwinners and six newcomers, Duvall has been able to put together a program that has quality depth at all positions, something NSU has lacked for more than 10 years.
With senior setter Nicole Kessner out due to injury for an indefinite amount of time, junior Kristen Burt and junior college transfer Megan Lavo will take over the setter duties. Burt has served as a more than adequate backup the last two seasons to Kessner, competing in 26 matches last year, while Lavo brings a lot of potential to the position, evident early on in preseason practice.
“Both will battle for time,” said Duvall. “Kristen has more experience in the program and is able to do the job very well from a physical standpoint. Megan is a very capable setter who understands the game and has a good volleyball IQ.”
Both players will have the luxury of setting up a solid core of hitters, none more so than junior Charlotte Armstead, an All-MEAC Second Team performer in 2010. She led the Spartans with 2.67 kills per set and set the NSU single-season mark. Armstead is also a very proficient blocker who will team with senior Jasmine Frazier to again form an intimidating blocking duo. Frazier led the team with 0.68 blocks per set and also added 1.39 kills last year.
“Charlotte was our top scorer last year, and we look for her to continue that route and perform even better this year,” state Duvall. “Jasmine is stronger and more explosive than last year, and her leadership on the court is exactly what we need.”
Junior college transfer Beatriz Ferreira and freshman Adriana Ramos provide plenty more firepower for NSU's frontcourt attack and will look to replace the production of departed players Arielle Knafel and Ellica Morris, who combined for nearly 4.5 kills per set in 2010. Ramos will play exclusively at outside hitter, while Ferreira will man the right side and provide some solid blocking for the Spartans.
“Both have a great attitude and expect a lot out of their teammates,” Duvall said. “They each have a heavy arm, they are working extremely hard, and they want to start. Once they get up to game speed and improve in that area, they have the potential to be permanent starters.”
Duvall is also expecting big things this year out of freshman middle blocker Jasmin Flowers, NSU's tallest player at 6-foot-2 and an all-state performer out of Texas. Flowers, the 5-11 Ferreira and Bridgewater College transfer Ashley Scott, a 6-0 junior right side hitter and middle blocker, will give NSU more size up front, an area that was one of NSU's biggest weaknesses last year.
“They give us the size and physical presence we haven't seen since I've been here,” said Duvall. “They are big defensive threats with their net presence, and now it's just a matter of getting them up to speed on offense.
“I'm very excited about our offensive potential once some of these players get some game experience early on in the season.”
Junior Chynna Blaker and freshman Taylerlee Baird round out NSU's depth at the hitter positions. Blaker saw action in 10 matches last year, while Baird will join NSU as a walk-on from Landstown High School in Virginia Beach.
“Chynna has come to school in great shape and is hitting much better than before,” Duvall said. “She brings a lot of good intangibles to the court. Taylerlee has one of the best natural blocking motions on the team and you can tell has plenty of potential. She's been improving tremendously since she got here.”
Sophomore middle blocker Kylee Thiim, meanwhile, will use her redshirt season this year.
NSU's backcourt defense is well stocked, and it starts with sophomore libero Noelle Eagles, who finished just a few digs short of setting NSU's single-season mark in her rookie campaign.
“It's nice knowing you have one of the top 3 liberos in the conference back there, especially one with three more years to play,” said Duvall.
With Eagles entrenched at libero, Lavo, out of the College of the Canyons in California, and redshirt senior Tracey Copley will serve as potential backups to Eagles and also see plenty of time at the defensive specialist spot. Copley will return to the court after sitting out in 2010.
“Megan communicates well every play when she's out on the court,” stated Duvall. “Tracey hasn't played in a match in two years, so she's just got to get back into the rhythm of things.
“We're a defensive team, relying heavily on our libero and defensive specialist, and we want to come in and make sure people recognize us as a solid defensive unit.”
Redshirt sophomore Omolayo Dada, whom Duvall called one of the quickest players on the team, will also battle for time on the defensive side of the ball. “She's probably been our most improved player this year,” he said.
Redshirt junior Paige Gary-Canty and junior Maatra Henderson round out the 2011 team, and both are capable of playing a variety of positions. Gary-Canty brings both solid defense and offense to the floor, averaging 2.08 digs and 1.34 kills per set last year, while Henderson has seen time at both offense and defense during her career.
“Paige is a true utility player,” said Duvall. “She's polished at every position, and she's one of our best all-around skill players. Maatra is also a good utility player. She's got good ball control and understands the game well.”
NSU's schedule has the Spartans heading to five different tournaments in the first five weeks of the season before returning to Echols Hall. The team kicks its season off Aug. 26 at the Asics Invitational at Hofstra, which will be followed by trips to Mercer, UMBC, Davidson and High Point for tournaments there.
The Spartans open their home schedule Sept. 27 against North Carolina A&T in a non-conference match, and then host Hampton a day later for the start of their conference season. After previously playing in the Southern Division, NSU moves into the North in volleyball this year due to the additions of Savannah State and North Carolina Central to the MEAC.
NSU will play home-and-away matches against Hampton, Morgan State, Coppin State, UMES and Delaware State during the conference season and host Howard twice at Echols Hall due to renovations at Howard's home facility. NSU's first five conference matches will all be at home. The Spartans will also play at James Madison Nov. 2.
