NORFOLK, Va. — Bowie State lost to Norfolk State 3-0 on Tuesday, falling by set scores of 14-25, 19-25 and 20-25. The Bulldogs finished with 23 kills and a .034 hitting percentage, while Norfolk State totaled 36 kills and hit .239. BSU added seven service aces and 33 digs but committed 20 attack errors in the loss.
After falling behind 9-4 in the opening set, the Bulldogs put together a stretch that narrowed the gap to 10-8. Norfolk State still generated more sustained production over the full match, finishing with 36 kills on a .239 hitting percentage while BSU had 23 kills and hit .034. The Bulldogs served for seven aces, one fewer than Norfolk St., but also committed 10 service errors. At the net, NSU finished with eight total blocks to BSU's four, and it also held a 42-33 advantage in digs. Payton Swinton led the Bulldogs' attack with eight kills, added two service aces and had a solo block as part of an 11-point effort. Gabrielle Hale directed the offense with 16 assists, while Reece Culver finished with seven digs. Bowie State was playing a division up, which added to the challenge they faced against Norfolk State.
After the Spartans built a 9-4 lead in the opening set, BSU got a Swinton kill, and later used a Hale kill, an Abena Asomani-Martin ace and a block by Jy'Asha Cousins and Asomani-Martin to pull within 10-8. Taylor Johnson and Swinton added kills as the Bulldogs stayed within 13-11, but Norfolk State moved back ahead 16-11 behind a kill and a service ace. Swinton answered with two more kills as BSU reached 14-18, but NSU scored the final seven points, closing the set 25-14.
The Bulldogs started the second set with a 4-0 lead behind a Johnson kill from Culver, a Hale service ace and two Norfolk State attack errors, and Melisa Anacius added two early kills as BSU moved ahead 6-1. Norfolk State worked back after the Bulldogs led 11-7, scoring five straight points behind two Catori Crawford kills and a block by Ava Berry and Crawford to go in front 12-11 before a block by Amara Pope and Hale tied it at 12-12. Norfolk State pushed back ahead 15-12, and after an Asomani-Martin kill and Pope ace brought BSU within 16-15, Norfolk State built the margin to 22-16 with another five-point stretch. Swinton's kill got the Bulldogs to 22-18, but the Trojans took three of the final four points and closed the set 25-19 on a Gabrielle Gilbert kill.
After the teams traded points to 4-4, Norfolk State put together five straight on a Kyleigh Moore kill, two BSU attack errors, a Reagan Chisholm kill and a Kaden Sanders ace to move ahead 9-4. Swinton answered with a kill and a service ace to bring the Bulldogs within 9-6, but Norfolk St. pushed back to 12-6 and later led 14-8. BSU worked back within 16-13 on a Norfolk State attack error and a Bracey Gross ace before the Trojans scored four straight, including a Kailia Phillips ace, to reach 20-13. The Bulldogs cut it to 20-16 with Swinton involved in a block and adding an ace, then got back to 23-20 on a Madyson Brinson kill, a Mil'lanni Marte ace and a Johnson kill before NSU took the final two points to close the set 25-20.
Swinton led BSU with eight kills and 11 points, adding two service aces, five digs and a solo block. Hale finished with 16 assists, five digs, two total blocks and one ace. Culver collected a team-high seven digs and added two assists. Johnson added five kills and five digs.
Up next, the Bulldogs host Virginia State University on Monday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. at A.C. Jordan Arena for Bowie State's first home game of the season as well as first match in CIAA play.Bowie State's first home contest will be a themed "Pajama Night".
For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 14 varsity sport teams, please visit bsubulldogs.com.
