NORFOLK, Va.  – Freshman setter Salma Gonzalez was three kills from a triple-double as the Isabela, Puerto Rico native recorded her first double-double of her career with 15 assists, 11 digs and added seven kills as the Savannah State University volleyball team (2-10) fell to Norfolk State University (3-8) 3-2 (25-21, 15-25, 21-25, 26-24, 7-15) in a non-conference battle to begin the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference North/South Challenge Friday in Gill Gymnasium. 
 
Freshman middle blocker Tyran Chenault recorded a team-high and a career-high 11 kills and added a .241 hitting percentage with six blocks, while senior setter Alee Quint added a team-high 17 assists and freshman libero Leiri Melendez added a team-high 14 digs.
 
Freshman outside hitter Brooke Sanford added seven kills and five digs, while junior outside hitter Ayree Gallon added five digs and two service aces and freshman outside hitter Amanda Rullan Vilanova added five kills.
 
Savannah State scored seven of the first 12 points in the first set to take a two-point lead, 7-5, but Norfolk State scored the next three points to take a point lead, 8-7.  With the Spartans still holding a point lead at 10-9, NSU scored three of the next five points to increase its lead to two points, 13-11, but the Lady Tigers scored the next six points to take a four-point lead, 17-13. 
 
After a Spartan point to cut the lead to three points, 17-14, Savannah State scored the next two points to increase its lead to five points, 19-14.  Norfolk State scored four of the next six points to close the gap to three points, 21-18, but SSU outscored NSU 4-3 during the rest of the set to win the set by four points and to take a 1-0 match lead.
 
Norfolk State scored eight of the first 10 points in the second frame to take a six-point lead, 8-2, forcing a Savannah State timeout.  After the timeout, the Lady Tigers scored the next two points to cut the lead to four points, 8-4, but the Spartans outscored SSU 17-11 during the rest of the set to win the set by 10 points and to tie the match at one.
 
The Spartans scored nine of the first 15 points in the third stanza to take a three-point lead, 9-6, but the Lady Tigers scored the next four points to take a point lead, 10-9.  With the set tied at 11, Savannah State scored the next two points to take a two-point lead, 13-11, but NSU outscored SSU 14-8 during the rest of the set to win the set by four points and to take a 2-1 match lead.
 
Norfolk State scored the first four points of the fourth set to take a 4-0 lead, but the Lady Tigers responded scoring the next four points to tie the set at four.  With the Spartans holding a point lead, 6-5, Savannah State scored the next three points to take a two-point lead, 8-6, but back-to-back NSU points tied the set at eight.  Savannah State scored four of the next eight points to keep the lead at two points, 12-10, but Norfolk State scored the next seven points to take a five-point lead, 17-12. 
 
The Lady Tigers bounced back scoring seven of the next 10 points to close within a point, 20-19, forcing a Norfolk State timeout.  After the timeout, the Spartans scored two of the next three points to increase its lead to two points, 22-20, but Savannah State scored three of the next four points to tie the set at 23.  NSU scored the next point to take a point lead, 24-23, and with the Lady Tigers facing match point scored the final three points to win the set by two points and to tie the match at two.
 
Norfolk State scored 13 of the first 17 points in the final frame to take a nine-point lead, 13-4, but the Lady Tigers scored the next three points to close within six points, 13-7.  NSU scored the final two points to win the set by eight points and the match.
 
The Spartans were led by Hope Forsythe with a double-double with 14 kills and 21 assists and added eight digs with a .444 hitting percentage, while Melvina Brown added a match-high 17 digs.
 
The Lady Tigers finish the tournament Saturday with a doubleheader in Virginia Beach.  SSU starts the day with University of Maryland Eastern Shore at 11 a.m. and Hampton University at 4 p.m.
 
Short Box Score (Match)
2017 Savannah State Volleyball
Savannah State vs Norfolk State (Sep 22, 2017 at Norfolk, Va.)
 
Norfolk State def. Savannah State 21-25,25-15,25-21,24-26,15-7
 
  Savannah State (2-10) (Kills-aces-blocks) - CHENAULT,Tyran 11-0-6;
  SANFORD,Brooke 7-0-1; GONZALEZ,Salma 7-1-1; RULLAN VILANOVA,Aman
  5-0-1; ROSADO,Jennifer 4-0-2; COLBERT,Charlinda 1-0-1; FULLER,Oneillia
  1-0-3; WILLIAMS,Cortney 0-2-0; GALLON,Ayree 0-2-0; MELENDEZ,Leiri
  0-1-0; Totals 36-6-10.0. (Assists) - QUINT,Alee 17; GONZALEZ,Salma 15.
  (Dig leaders) - MELENDEZ,Leiri 14; GONZALEZ,Salma 11
 
  Norfolk State (3-8) (Kills-aces-blocks) - FORSYTHE,Hope 14-2-1;
  TYLER,Clarke 10-3-4; EICHELBERGER,Taylor 9-0-2; BURRELL,Daiysa 6-1-1;
  BROWN,Lexi 5-1-5; KICK,Clara 5-0-5; CRAIG,Jazmine 1-0-0; AQUINO,Jill
  0-1-0; BROWN,Melvina 0-3-0; Totals 50-11-10.0. (Assists) -
  FORSYTHE,Hope 21; AQUINO,Jill 18. (Dig leaders) - BROWN,Melvina 17;
  AQUINO,Jill 9; FORSYTHE,Hope 8
 
  Site: Norfolk, Va. (Gill Gymnasium)
  Date: Sep 22, 2017   Attend: 198   Time: 2:11   
  Referees: Scott Hanley, Chris Burton
 
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