NORFOLK, Va. – Thanks in part to yet another double-double from junior rightside Vendula Strakova, the Hampton University volleyball team defeated rival Norfolk State 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-14) in Echols Hall Friday night in both teams' Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener.

Strakova (Brno, Czech Republic) tallied 27 kills and a team-high 13 digs for her fourth straight double-double – and her 10th of the season – while also hitting .297 and recording four service aces. Sophomore Allysa Medina (Menifee, Calif.) added eight kills and hit a team-best .533.

Senior setter Bibiany Fonseca (Uberlandia, Brazil) had 44 assists and nine digs, while senior libero Sheileen Pagan (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico) added 11 digs on defense.

Norfolk State had the early momentum, taking a 9-2 lead in the first set and appeared to be continuing the success the Spartans had against Hampton last season. The Lady Pirates (7-7, 1-0 MEAC) clawed their way back into the set, cutting the Spartans' lead to 15-12 on a kill from Medina.

Norfolk State kept the lead throughout the set, though Hampton closed the gap to 24-23 on an ace from Pagan before the Spartans clinched the set on the following point.

The Spartans hit .325 (17 kills, four errors in 40 attacks) in the first set.

"Tonight's match was a great way to start conference play," first-year head coach Karen Weatherington said. "Norfolk State was well-prepared for us. They made some adjustments to their lineup and posed a formidable block for us.

"We responded well, and (Medina and Strakova) really took advantage of their opportunities to score in transition."

The Lady Pirates immediately responded in the second set, opening with a 4-1 run capped by a kill from Strakova. Norfolk State fought back to cut the lead to 8-7, but Hampton responded with a 6-2 spurt to take a 14-9 lead on an ace from junior outside hitter Krista Kraskua (Kuldiga, Latvia).

After Fonseca recorded a kill to put Hampton up 16-13, Norfolk State went on an 8-2 run to take a 21-18 lead. But Hampton scored the next four points, going up 22-21 on a kill from Kraskura. The Spartans tied the set on the next point, but Hampton scored the last three points to tie the match at 1-1.

"(Fonseca) has helped elevate our level of play by investing in a system of play that gives her hitters effective attack options," Weatherington said. "She ran the offense with precision and that really allowed us to separate ourselves in the second set."

The third and fourth sets were Hampton's time to shine, as the Lady Pirates hit above .400 in each set -- .407 (13 kills, two errors in 27 attacks) in the third set and .417 (12 kills, two errors in 24 attacks) in the fourth set.

A kill from Strakova early in the third set gave the Lady Pirates an 8-4 lead, before the Spartans went on a 4-1 spurt to cut the gap to 9-8. From there, Hampton answered with a 10-2 run, taking a 19-10 lead after back-to-back blocks from Strakova and junior outside hitter Sonja Maksimovic (Belgrade, Serbia).

Norfolk State got to within seven, 20-13, but the Lady Pirates closed the third set scoring five of the last seven points – and Hampton won the third set after Strakova, who leads the nation in points and kills, ended the frame with a kill and three straight aces.

The Spartans jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the fourth set, before the Lady Pirates went on a 6-2 run to cut the lead to 7-6. Norfolk State later took a 9-7 lead, before Hampton scored the next eight points, taking a 15-9 lead.

The run grew to 11-1, giving the Lady Pirates an 18-10 lead.

Norfolk State closed to within seven, 20-13, but the Lady Pirates scored five of the next six points, clinching the set on – appropriately enough – an ace from Strakova.

The Lady Pirates hit .295 (52 kills, 13 errors in 132 attacks) for the match, compared to just .164 hitting (48 kills, 25 errors in 140 attacks) for the Spartans (4-11, 0-1 MEAC). Hampton also held a 14-7 edge in service aces and a 10.0-4.0 edge in blocks.

"When we have effective serving and block the ball well," Weatherington said, "we can be hard to beat."

Jessica Johnson led Norfolk State with 18 kills.

The Lady Pirates will be back in Holland Hall on Sunday for a 3 p.m. match against Morgan 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.