Updated Weekly Notes

HAMPTON, Va. – After a month of jetting about the country, and picking up a historic win in its home opener, the Hampton University volleyball team will open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play this weekend with a pair of matches.

The Lady Pirates (6-7) will take on rival Norfolk State in Echols Hall on Friday at 6 p.m., before returning to Holland Hall on Sunday for a 3 p.m. tilt against Morgan State.

Hampton outlasted William & Mary in a five-set thriller 3-2 (27-25, 22-25, 25-22, 19-25, 15-7) on Tuesday night in Holland Hall, thanks in large part to 31 kills and 22 digs from junior rightside Vendula Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic).

Sophomore outside hitter Allysa Medina (Menifee, Calif.) added a career-high nine kills, and junior outside hitter Krista Kraskura (Kuldiga, Latvia) recorded eight kills and 14 digs.

The Lady Pirates were picked to win the MEAC Northern Division this season, receiving 14 first-place votes in the preseason poll voted on by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors. Defending MEAC champion Maryland Eastern Shore was picked to finish second, while Norfolk State (4-10) was picked to finish third.

Morgan State (5-8) was picked to finish fifth.

Coming into the week, Strakova led the nation in points and was second in kills, while also ranking 15th in service aces. After Tuesday's match, she leads the MEAC in kills (5.54 per set), aces (0.50 per set), and points (6.44 per set).

Strakova is also third in the MEAC with a .261 hitting percentage.

Senior setter Bibiany Fonseca (Uberlandia, Brazil) has recorded at least 50 assists four times this season – including Tuesday night against William & Mary – and her 10.17 assists per set so far this season lead the conference.

The Lady Pirates rank in the top five in the MEAC in every statistical category, and they lead the conference in hitting percentage (.215), kills (13.31 per set), and assists (11.92 per set). Hampton is third in the MEAC in opponents' hitting percentage (.217), blocks (1.83 per set), and aces (1.58 per set).

Hampton's 13.25 digs per set are the MEAC's fifth-best average.

The Lady Pirates are 57-17 all-time against Norfolk State, despite losing two of three meetings with the Spartans last season. Overall, Norfolk State has won nine of the last 11 meetings between the two schools.

Hampton is 4-34 against Morgan State, but Hampton swept both of last season's meetings.

The Lady Pirates are 1-4 on the road so far this season, and 1-0 in Holland Hall.

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.