ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Three North Carolina Central University (2-12) student-athletes put on career performances in volleyball action Saturday evening to put a sweet finish on the South Carolina State Spikefest as the Eagles snapped their eight-match losing skid with a 3-2 victory over The Citadel Bulldogs (5-10), rebounding from a 3-0 defeat earlier in the day to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Hampton (1-14).
“We played well as a team,” said NCCU head coach Georgette Crawford-Crooks. “Our defense stepped up and helped us win this match. With each match, there were improvements in different individuals that will help our team get stronger as the season progresses. This was a good win for us and a much needed victory.”
The Eagles used their power defense to lay the hammer on The Citadel. Even when they were down two sets to one, NCCU never gave up. They pushed through and relied on their defensive strengths to rally back as they defeated The Citadel by scores of 25-20, 18-25, 13-25, 25-23 and 15-10. NCCU had nine blocks on the match.
NCCU improved to 2-12 on the year following a 1-3 mark in this weekend’s action. They snapped an eight-match losing streak and continued their fight as they refused to let down their guard throughout the tournament. The Citadel dropped to 5-10 on the year, while Hampton earned their first win and improved to 1-14 on the season.
Senior outside hitter
Belinda Behncke-Biney paced the Eagle offense throughout the weekend and didn’t stop in the final game of the tournament. The Hamburg, Germany, native notched double-figure kills in all four matches, topping the weekend off with a career-high 21 kills against the Bulldogs. She also added 15 digs for her second double-double of the year. She finished the weekend with 52 kills, five service aces, 26 digs and seven blocks.
Maritsann Sinclair, who has been quiet most of the year, stepped up to the challenge and notched her first career double-double with a career-high 17 kills and 15 digs. She also added three blocks on the defensive end. Sinclair and Behncke-Biney combined for 38 of NCCU’s 57 kills and 30 of the Eagles’ 61 digs.
The Eagle defense got help from junior Raven King, who collected a match-high 20 digs, just five shy of her career high. On the net, where the Eagles remain consistent day in and day out, Kalin Russell and Alexis John recorded four blocks apiece to contribute to the pesty Eagle blocking game.
Freshman setter Jzima-Malaki Kalao earned her second career All-Tournament Team selection after an outstanding offensive performance for the Eagles. She capped the weekend off with a season-high 45 assists against The Citadel. The Bubendorf, Switzerland, native totaled 122 assists over the two-day weekend.
The Citadel offense was controlled by the pair of Kaona Mercer and Jessica Maas, who combined for 22 of the Bulldogs’ 57 kills. The setting duo of Alexa Dahlstrom and Erin Bucherl combined for 39 of 50 assists as Dahlstrom led the way with 21. Maas also contributed a team-high six blocks on the defensive side of the net as the Bulldogs out-numbered the Eagles in blocks with 10.
Defensively, a trio of Bulldogs contributed to the 64 digs as Kathryn Johnston, Emily Dalton and Bucherl combined for 37. Johnston was the leader with 16, followed by Dalton with 11 and Bucherl with 10.
Earlier in the day, the Eagles faced-off with the Hampton Pirates, struggling to find a rhythm as they kept each set close, but were unable to deliver as they fell by scores of 25-23, 26-24 and 26-24. The Pirates earned their first win of the season as they battled their conference foe in the Eagles.
Behncke-Biney recorded 10 kills, while Emanuelle Santos added eight kills and two service aces to pace the Eagle offense. Kalao contributed to the Eagle offense with 26 assists and two service aces. On the defensive end, NCCU was anchored by King with 11 digs and Sashalee Wallen with a career-high seven blocks.
The Eagles collected 32 kills, 29 assists, seven service aces, 28 digs and nine and a half blocks, showing two evenly matched teams as the Pirates totaled 32 kills, 29 assists, six service aces, 35 digs and seven blocks.
Hampton was led by Aaryn Harrison with 10 blocks, followed by Lina Cordoba with seven. Contributing to the offense was Juliana Chavez with 24 assists. On the defensive end, Ivana Suput paced the Pirates with 11 digs, while Mariah Baylor added four blocks. Cordoba and Chavez combined for six blocks.
The Eagles will be back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 21 when they travel to Buies Creek, N.C., to face the Camels of Campbell University. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday’s match-up will mark the ninth meeting between the two programs as the Camels hold a 6-2 advantage in the series.
For more information on Eagle Volleyball or for up-to-date scores and statistics, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
