Oct. 3, 2009

Final Stats

NORFOLK, Va. - The North Carolina Central University Eagles (6-15) rallied from a 1-2 deficit to defeat Norfolk State, 3-2, Saturday evening in Gills Gym, where the Eagles put on an outstanding defensive performance. Three Eagles recorded double-doubles to lead NCCU past the Spartans by scores of 25-22, 21-25, 24-26, 25-19 and 16-14.

Avaniki Campbell recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 kills and a career-high 10 blocks. The senior led the team on offense with a .250 hitting percentage. Belinda Behncke-Biney notched her first double-double of the season, leading with a match-high 16 kills and 14 digs. Shantel Moore had 11 kills and 13 digs to earn her third double-double of the season.

Sophomore libero Raven King led on defense with a match-high 18 digs to go along with a match-high three service aces. The Eagles dominated on defense, continuing their consistency on the net. NCCU clipped the Spartan's offense with a season-high 18 total blocks and a season-high 59 digs.

As a team, the Eagles had 34 assisted blocks, which contributed to many career-highs for the Eagles. Tasha-Gaye Richards and Kiara Brown notched career-highs with five blocks apiece. Behncke-Biney added a career-high three blocks to her double-double performance. Norfolk State was outnumbered significantly in the blocks column with nine total blocks.

NCCU claimed the first set 25-22 after coming from behind, earning their final lead of the set off a 5-0 run. Once the Eagles had a solid lead, they never looked back. The Spartans continued to battle getting within one, but the Eagles stayed on top, not allowing Norfolk State to see another lead. NCCU closed the set with a 5-2 run.

The second and third sets belonged to the Spartans, who turned up their offense. A Spartan team that hit in the negative during the first set improved drastically in the second and third sets. Norfolk State hit .162 in the second set and .105 in the third. Defensively, they held the Eagles to a .053 hitting percentage in the second set and a .000 in the third set, forcing them to win back-to-back sets in order to take the win.

Down two sets to one, the Eagles were forced to win the next two sets in order to claim the win. NCCU played a much better offensive set, hitting .143 with 11 kills. The Eagle defense held the Spartans to a .028 hitting percentage with nine kills and eight errors. NCCU took the lead after a 2-2 tie and didn't allow Norfolk State to tie the score or take the lead. The Eagles finished the set, 25-19, forcing a deciding set five.

NCCU battled back to tie the match at two sets apiece. Both teams expected a battle in the final set. Norfolk State jumped out to a 3-0 lead. A 5-2 Spartan lead forced the Eagles to call a timeout. NCCU scored three straight points to tie the set at five and managed to jump ahead. Norfolk State called a timeout with NCCU up, 8-7.

Three tie scores would take place, but unfortunately for the Spartans, they were unable to jump back in front. They managed to tie the score at 14-14. A kill by Behncke-Biney put the Eagles one point away from the win. An attack error by Norfolk State's Nicole Kessner gave the Eagles a 16-14 win, claiming the match, 3-2.

The Eagles put on their best offensive set of the day, hitting an impressive .348 with nine kills and only one error. On defense, they forced seven errors. Richards and Brown earned three of their five blocks in the fifth set, while the Eagles had a total of four blocks in that set alone.

The Eagles forced 43 Spartan errors and held Norfolk State to a .084 hitting percentage on the match, which is below their season average. Norfolk State outnumbered NCCU in kills, 58-48, had 12 more assists than the Eagles and had 10 more digs with 69. The Eagles outnumbered the Spartans in blocks and service aces.

Norfolk State was led by Charlotte Armstead, who hit above .400 with a.455 hitting percentage and 13 kills, and Ellica Morris, with13 kills. On defense, libero Solange Honore led the team with 16 digs, followed by Aurelia Isham with 11 digs. Armstead led the Spartans in blocks with five.

NCCU improved to 6-15 on the season, while Norfolk State dropped to 2-15. The Eagles took a 6-4 advantage in the series against the Spartans and have won five of their last six meetings. The Spartans continued their losing streak with 13 consecutive losses.

The Eagles return to action tomorrow when they face Maryland Eastern Shore at 1 p.m. and Hampton at 6 p.m. on the campus of Hampton University.

For more information on Eagles volleyball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.