Weekly Notes

NORFOLK, Va. – The Hampton University volleyball team will tangle with rival Norfolk State twice this weekend, taking on the Spartans Friday in Echols Hall at 6 p.m., before the two teams meet again on Sunday at 3 p.m. in Holland Hall.

The Lady Pirates are now 13-11 overall and 4-1 in the MEAC Northern Division, sitting in second place after falling in four sets to Maryland Eastern Shore and sweeping Delaware State this past weekend. Hampton has already matched its win total from last season.

The Spartans (6-18, 3-2 MEAC) also split its matches against UMES and Delaware State this past weekend, beating the Lady Hornets in four sets before falling to UMES in four.

Sophomore rightside Vendula Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic) has six double-doubles so far this season, and she currently leads the MEAC in points with 5.31 per set and is second with 4.45 kills per set. She is also third in the MEAC in service aces (0.51 per set).

Sophomore outside hitter Krista Kraskura (Kuldiga, Latvia) is sixth in the MEAC in kills with 3.31 per set, seventh in points with 3.78 per set, and seventh in digs with 2.99 per set.

Senior middle blocker Mariah Baylor (Minneapolis, Minn.) is third in the MEAC in blocks, averaging 1.05 per set.

Overall, the Lady Pirates are second in the MEAC in hitting percentage (.210) and third in opponents' hitting percentage (.207). Hampton leads the conference in opponents' hitting percentage in conference play, holding MEAC foes to just .144.

Hampton is also ranked seventh among all Div. I teams in service aces, averaging 1.70 per set.

Over halfway through the season, the Lady Pirates have the second-best winning percentage in the MEAC. Hampton has a .542 winning percentage — second to only defending conference champion Maryland Eastern Shore (.826, 19-4).

This season, the Lady Pirates boast non-conference wins over Elon (Southern Conference), Radford (Big South), Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt), Stetson (Atlantic Sun), and McNeese State (Southland). Hampton also took Baylor, No. 49 in the RPI last season, to five sets.

The Lady Pirates are 57-15 all-time against Norfolk State, and the Spartans have won seven of the last nine meetings — though Hampton won earlier this season in five sets on Sept. 22 as part of the Spartan Invitational.

The two teams split last year's meetings, with Hampton winning in four sets in Echols Hall before the Spartans came into Holland Hall later in the season and escaped with a five-set win.

Head coach Pedro Gonzalez is 4-7 in his career against Norfolk State.

For more information on Hampton University volleyball, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.