Dec. 3, 2009
DURHAM. N.C. - North Carolina Central University volleyball student-athletes Belinda Behncke-Biney and Avaniki Campbell added another accolade to their successful season, as both were selected to the NCAA Division I All-Independent Volleyball First Team, while Kiara Brown was All-Independent Honorable Mention.
The NCAA Division I All-Independent First Team is a 10-member team that is voted on by both coaches and sports information directors from all division one independent volleyball programs. Honorable Mention is given to those student-athletes who received two or more votes, but did not make the top-10.
Behncke-Biney started in all 32 matches for NCCU this season and led the Eagles in kills (302) and service aces (41). She notched five double-doubles and was named the NCAA Division I Independent Player of the Week for Oct. 19. The outside hitter hit better than .300 twice and tallied three or more aces in four matches this season, including seven at Radford.
The Hamburg, Germany native recorded double-digit kills in 14 matches and had double-digit digs in seven matches, while ranked second on the team in digs with 240. Behncke-Biney also earned two All-Tournament team honors. Among all other independent teams, she ranks among the top-5 in aces and kills, while standing among the top-10 in five other categories.
Campbell, one of the Eagles' two seniors, had the best all around performance of her career. She started in all 32 matches for the Eagles and was named the NCAA Division I Independent Defensive Player of the Week for Sept. 14. Campbell notched two double-doubles and earned two All-Tournament Team honors. She led the Eagles in blocks (129), while ranked second in aces (33).
The senior hit above .300 in 11 matches, including six where she hit above .400. She led the team in attack percentage, hitting .213 on the season and recorded a career-high 10 total blocks at Norfolk State. Campbell recorded double-digit kills in seven matches this season and was one of two Eagles to play in all 114 sets.
The St. Catherine, Jamaica native ranks among the top-10 in program history. She is fifth all-time in total blocks in a season (129), sixth in total blocks in a career (193), fourth in block assists in a season (99) and sixth in block assists in a career (155). Among all other independent schools, she ranks among the top-2 in block solos, block assists, total blocks and blocks per set, while standing among the top-10 in three other categories.
Brown notched two double-doubles this season and started in 30-of-32 matches for NCCU. She recorded a career-high 44 assists against Coppin State and also tallied career-highs in kills and blocks this season. Brown, a native of Raleigh, N.C., totaled a season-high of 749 assists, leading the Eagles in that category.
The setter recorded more than 30 assists in 10 matches this season, including 40 or more assists in two. She ranks among the top-10 in program history in assists, standing at 10th all-time in assists in a season (749) and eighth in assists in a career (872). Among all other independent teams, the sophomore ranks in the top-5 in assists and assists per set.
In addition to their athletic honors, Behncke-Biney, Brown and Campbell were all selected to the 2009 NCAA Division I Volleyball All-Academic Team, where each student-athlete must be a starter or significant reserve and must be of sophomore standing or higher with a minimum grade point average of 3.30.
Behncke-Biney has a 3.88 in business management and administration, while Brown has calculated a 3.43 in nursing. Campbell, who will receive her degree in May, has a 3.81 in political science.
For more information on Eagle volleyball, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
