SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Two North Carolina Central University volleyball student-athletes sought to keep the Eagles alive offensively and defensively against the Spartans of USC Upstate, Wednesday, Oct. 20. But the host Spartans amassed 45 kills to take a three straight set victory over the Eagles (25-18, 25-18, 25-20).

 

NCCU finished the night with 28 kills on 87 attempts, 26 assists and three service aces on offense, while obtaining 32 digs and 18 blocks on defense. As a team, the Eagles achieved 40 points through their solid defensive and offensive play. The Spartans were considerably stronger than the Eagles with 45 kills, 40 digs, six service aces and six total blocks, pacing USC Upstate at .241 hitting percentage.

 

Junior outside hitter Alexis John produced her second consecutive all-round performance for NCCU, contributing 3.5 points to the match. The Columbia, Md. native led the Eagles defense with 13 digs, and stopped the Spartan offense with one block assist. During three sets of play, she also forced three kills on the USC Spartan hardwood.

 

Directing the Eagles’s offense was senior Belinda Behncke-Biney, seized her fifth consecutive double-digit kill outing with 10 kills. The senior outside hitter also added one service ace, three digs and two block assists.

 

Breathing life into the offense was NCCU freshman setter Jzima-Malaki Kalao with 21 assists. Kalao made herself an offensive threat, keeping the Spartan blockers on their toes with four kills on five attempts. Her performance also included three digs and two block assists on the right side.

 

Kingston, Jamaica natives Sashalee Wallen and Tasha-Gaye Richards announced their presence as middle blockers, ending eight plays with their blocking abilities. Wallen paced the Eagles with six blocks and added two kills to the offense. Richards earned two blocks and two kills on the night.

 

NCCU freshman Kalin Russell followed Wallen’s blocking performance, blending into the defensive mix with four blocks and two kills. Keeping the ball in play with six digs was junior Raven King, who also forced a reception error with one service ace.

 

Aiding in the Eagles’ positive hitting percentage, junior outside hitter Maritsann Sinclair hammered one kill on five attempts, along with one service ace and one dig for two NCCU points.

 

Eagles’ sophomores Tocarra Jones and Courtney Williams shook the Spartan defense with four kills on 13 attempts. Jones turned three Kalao sets into assists, while Williams utilized one of Kalao’s sets for an Eagle kill.

 

The Spartan offense was led by six-foot senior outside hitter Katie Downey with 11 kills on 21 attempts. Pushing the offense forward was sophomore Emily Sanders with 37 assists. 

 

Freshman Cori Harris set the defensive tone, turning nine Eagle attempts into Spartan digs. During her time as a front row player, she tallied 10 kills on 18 attempts for a .389 hitting percentage.

 

The Eagles drop to 6-21 on the season, while the Spartans advance to 8-14 snapping them out of a two-game losing streak.

NCCU returns to the hardwood on Friday, Oct. 22 when the Eagles host Bethune-Cookman University in a 7 p.m. match-up at James E. Shepard Middle School in Durham, N.C. The Eagles look to regroup and get back on the winning track as they head back into MEAC action.

For more information on Eagles Volleyball or for up-to-date scores and statistics, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.