ETTRICK, VA --The Virginia State Volleyball team (1-4) fell to Elizabeth City State (21-25, 20-25,20-25) after three hard fought sets.


Alexis McNair (8) and Helena Eubanks (7) combined for 15 kills while Amaya Cooper contributed five. McNair ended the match with a hitting percentage of .353 (personal best) while Eubanks led the team with a .400 (personal best.) For the second game straight, Leyla Conley earned four blocks while contributing 7.5 points. Emma Quarles assisted on 12 kills along with six digs while Makenzy Johnson added nine assists. Reigning CIAA Defensive Player of the Week Najlaa Williams led the team with seven digs.


Game Notes

• Helena Eubanks and Alexis McNair earned seasonal personal bests in hitting percentage
• Leyla Conley tied her personal best with four blocks
• Emma Quarles not only led the team in assists with 12, she also contributed six digs as well
• VSU earned the minimal edge in blocks 5-4
• Alexis McNair earned a team-high and personal best nine points in the contest.

 
 
How It Happened
SET 1 | Slow starts have plagued the Trojans all season long and unfortunately the start to this one was no different as the Lady Vikings were able to jump out to a 7-1 lead. Thanks to series of mistakes from ECSU and a kill from Alexis McNair, the Trojans were able to fight back to make the score 6-7. Following a kill from Helena Eubanks and an ace from Leyla Conley, the contest saw its first tie at 10. As ECSU tried to pull away, the Trojans came roaring back with four straight points headlined by a powerful kill from Amaya Cooper to make the score 16-15. Following a tie at 18, ECSU scored three huge points to bring the score to 18-21. As Conley earned her second ace of the set to make the score 20-21, the Lady Vikings scored four of the last five points to earned the win in the first set 21-25.

SET 2 | As the Trojans came out with more fight in the second set, ECSU scored three points straight to make the score 4-7. As Jennah Kareem was able to hit an ace, the Trojans scored three points in-a-row to bring the score back to a tie at 7 all. Following an attack error from the Lady Vikings, VSU took their first lead of the set, 11-10. ECSU would answer with six straight points to make the score 11-16 halfway through the second set. While the Trojans attempted to mount a comeback, the Lady Vikings put an end to it scoring five of six points to bring the score to 15-21. The Trojans gave all they had to pull themselves back led by a pair of kills from Eubanks but it proved to be too little too late as ECSU took the second set 20-25.

SET 3 | With their backs against the wall, the Trojans took a 5-3 lead early thanks to kills from Leyla Conley and Alexis McNair. ECSU then went on the longest scoring run of the match scoring nine straight points to bring the score to 5-12. The Trojans tried their best to fight back but the Lady Vikings kept them at arm's length 12-17. VSU seemed to hit a switched midway through the second set scoring five straight points to bring the score to 19 all. ECSU went on to turn it on again scoring six of seven points to end the third set 20-25.  



What's Next
Virginia State will be back in action at 5:00 p.m. to take on nationally ranked West Virginia State to conclude the first day of the VSU Volleyball Classic.

 
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