DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University (6-22) and Bethune-Cookman University (6-20) met for the second time this season on Friday, Oct. 22 in the Shepard Middle School gymnasium. Following a fight to the finish five-set match, the Wildcats trumped the Eagles (25-16, 25-23, 20-25, 23-25, 15-12).

NCCU began the match with a slow start, losing the first two sets. But the Eagles would not go down quietly, taking the third and fourth sets for a 2-2 status, putting the Wildcats on their heels. 

Junior Sashalee Wallen kept the Eagles alive with a season-high 12 kills on 16 attempts and a season high seven blocks on the night. She also collected one service ace and four digs. Fueling Wallen’s fire was freshman Jzima-Malaki Kalao with a match-high 48 assists.

While the Wildcats put up 11 blocks on the night, attempting to shut down the Eagle offense. Senior
Belinda Behncke-Biney pushed 21 kills through on 42 attempts. The outside hitter also added six digs and one block to her repertoire.

The Eagles, who are normally consistent servers, struggled just to get the ball in play with three service aces on 13 service errors. Raven King led the Eagles with two of the three services aces, and also kept the defense alive with 13 digs.

NCCU junior Maritsann Sinclair bounced back from her performance earlier this week, hammering 12 kills on 38 attempts for the Eagles. She also provided four digs during the match.

Eagles’ freshman Kalin Russell joined the action with seven kills, providing three momentum changing sideouts.

Statistically, the Eagles and the Wildcats play were pretty balanced. But with offensive threats from all positions on the net from outside hitter Jessica Wilson, middle hitter Kaiyana Johnson and right side hitter Linda Nwabuko, NCCU’s could not close out the match. 

Wilson paced the Wildcats with 19 kills for a .333 hitting percentage. Johnson and Nwabuko both tallied 10 kills on the night.

North Carolina native Jacqueline Woodyear maintained Bethune-Cookman’s defensive game with 12 digs for the evening.

The Eagles will head to Norfolk, Va. to face another MEAC foe, Norfolk State. The Spartans enter the match 10-15, with a recent win over arch-rivals North Carolina A&T. The match scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 24 slated to begin at 3 p.m.

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.