ETTRICK, VA (October 16, 2021)- The Virginia State University volleyball team fell to Elizabeth City State on the road Tuesday afternoon.
 
 
Set 1
Early on in the first set, VSU took the lead 5-2 after Helena Eubanks kicked started the 3-0 run with a powerful kill. Following a point from the Vikings, the Trojans went on their best scoring run of the match scoring nine unanswered points highlighted by three kills from Eubanks, a block by Bethany Henry and an ace from Kennedy Hoge to make it 14-3. Despite the Vikings cutting into the lead as much as they could, Virginia State would hold ECSU off in the first set winning it 25-15.
 
Set 2
From start to finish, the Vikings controlled the second set as the home team had four runs where they scored three or more points unanswered. A string of mistakes by the Trojans fueled an 8-0 run for the Vikings winning 12 of 13 points to make the score 22-7. Jodorrian Taylor and Helena Eubanks accounted for three kills each in the set while Ambria McBride had two. The Vikings gained momentum after beating the Trojans 25-9 in the second set.
 
Set 3
The red-hot Vikings got off to a quick 6-1 lead early in the third set. Kills from both Henry and Eubanks would help the Trojans cut into the lead 8-6. The home squad would keep Virginia State at arm's length until back-to-back 3-0 scoring runs that put the Trojans back to within one at 15-14. The Trojans would get close but fail to get over the hump yet again, as they were able to bring the ECSU lead to just one for the second time in the set at 18-17. The Vikings would score three huge unanswered points late in the second set to make the score 23-18. Following a kill from Bethany Henry, Elizabeth City State would finish out the set 25-19.
 
Set 4
With their backs against the wall, the Trojans came out swinging winning the first 9 of 10 points to make the score 9-1. ECSU would wake up shortly after answering back with a 4-0 run of their own to bring the score to 10-7. The two would go back-and-fourth up until ECSU scored four unanswered points to bring the Vikings to within striking distance at 13-12. Late in the fourth set, the Trojans had a chance to put the set away to force a fifth set but the home team had other plans. With the score at 22-18, ECSU went on the most important run of the match and scored four-straight to knot it up at 22 all. The squads would trade points until the score was locked at 24-24. Consecutive points from a kill and a block gave the home team the victory in set four 26-24.
 
 
Leaders
VSU and ECSU were almost identical statistically as ECSU had only two more digs, three more aces, one more assist and four more kills than the Trojans while VSU had one more block that the Vikings.  Helena Eubanks has led Trojans in kills for more than half of the season and tonight was no different as she accumulated a team-high 13 kills along with 10 kills from Jodorrian Taylor and seven from Kiara Hill. Kennedy Hoge tied for a match-high with three aces in the evening contest. Kiara Hill was a force at the net all night long as she came up with a match-high four blocks while Bethany Henry and Jodorrian Taylor each contributed three. Makenzy Johnson assisted on 34 kills in the evening contest. Najlaa Williams put her body on the line numerous times accounting for 18 digs as McBride awy with nine.
 
 
 Next Up
The Trojans will return to the 804 to take on the Panthers of Virginia Union University at 6pm on November 4. The matchup will be at the home of the Panthers, as the Trojans will look to snap a two-game losing streak.