DOVER, Del., Nov. 17, 2023 – Gerrin Tomlin led the way with 15.5 points as Delaware State University defeated North Carolina Central in three set (25-16, 25-17, 25-12) in the 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Championship quarterfinals at Memorial Hall Gym. 

The No. 3-seeded Hornets (17-12) will take on the No. 2 Bison of Howard University in Saturday’s 8:30 p.m. semifinal. 

Tomlin led the Hornets with nine kills while hitting .467 on the evening while collecting a team-high six service aces and 10 digs. Kelsie Dawson added eight kills while hitting .800 for the match. 

The Hornets started set one on a 6-2 run forcing N.C. Central to use a timeout early in the set. The Eagles came out of the timeout and went on a 6-2 run of their own to even the score at eight all. Delaware State pulled away 13-9 causing N.C. Central to use their second timeout of the set. Following the timeout, the Hornets closed out the set on a 12-7 run taking set one 25-16.  

The Eagles opened set two taking a 3-1 lead, but the Hornets came back on a 7-1 rally to take the lead and force an NCCU timeout. Delaware State maintained the lead despite North Carolina Central creeping within two points a couple times, last at 12-10. DSU went on an 8-4 run taking a 20-14 lead forcing another N.C. Central timeout. The Hornets closed out the set scoring five points to take set two 25-17.  

Delaware State continued to carry the momentum into the third set opening the game on a 6-0 run before N.C. Central got on the scoreboard. DSU went on a 17-5 run putting the score at 23-6. A service error by the Hornets started a run for Eagles who scored six more points before DSU scored their final two points to clinch the victory and advance to the semifinals.  

Jeslyn Spencer led the Eagles (6-18) with eight kills while Kamren Harper and Emmie Modlin, a second-team All-MEAC honoree, added six kills each.  

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) is in its 53rd year of intercollegiate competition with the 2023-24 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of eight outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University and South Carolina State University.