BUIES CREEK, N.C. – In a head-to-head battle that looked as if North Carolina Central University would prevail and keep its streak alive, Campbell University had their own conclusion as they outlasts the Eagles in volleyball action Tuesday night to take a 3-0 win at the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center.
Campbell had to fight hard to claim the win as they were pushed to the limit by the aggressive Eagles, who eventually allowed the Camels to sweep the day by scores of 26-24, 25-11 and 25-23. NCCU dropped to 2-13 on the year, while Campbell improved to 5-11.
Eagle power hitter Belinda Behncke-Biney showed her strength and proved to be unstoppable as she recorded a match-high 15 kills to go along with a .225 clip. She also contributed six digs on the defensive end of the net. Her effectiveness was due to the consistency of freshman setter Jzima-Malaki Kalao, who had a match-high 27 dishes.
Junior outside hitter Alexis John tied her career-high seven kills as she contributed significantly on offense for the Eagles. She was also a main contributor on defense as she and junior Raven King collected nine digs apiece to lead the Eagles’ defensive efforts. Tasha-Gaye Richards had a big showing with a team-high four blocks.
The Camels were led by none other than the Preseason All-Atlantic Sun selection Emily Werner, who put on a double-double performance with 11 kills and 14 digs. She was one of two Camels to pitch in double-figure digs as she was accompanied by Kelsey Campbell with 11 digs. Caitlin Bendy notched a match-high eight blocks, followed by Annie Kobeski with seven to lead the Campbell blocking game.
NCCU’s defense did its job, holding the Camels to a .170 clip with 31 total kills and 28 assists. The Campbell defense held the Eagles below .100 with 32 kills and 30 assists. Defensively, the Camels out-blocked the Eagles, 11-5, while NCCU out-numbered Campbell in digs, 45-42.
Fans got a show in the first set as the Camels and the Eagles put everything they had on the line in a hard fought battle that saw 12 tie scores and five lead changes. With the score deadlocked at four, a Camel service error would give the Eagles the jump-start they needed. The Eagles stayed in control for the next 27 points, not allowing Campbell within striking distance until four straight points knotted the set at 14.
From that point on, the set saw seven more tie scores as the set went down to the wire. Campbell called a timeout with the Eagles up 21-20. Out of the break, the Camels came out firing, refusing to lose. Each team traded points as the lead went back and forth. Campbell tied the set at 24 and scored the next two points to claim a 26-24 win.
The second set started out like the first with NCCU jumping out to a quick lead, but that was all the excitement they would see as Campbell took over following a 4-4 tie, the second and final tie of the set. The rest of the set saw Campbell outscore the Eagles 21-7 as the Camels claimed an easy 25-11 win to take a two set lead.
Coming out of the break, the Eagles looked rejuvenated and they seemed ready to battle as they put up a respectable fight, jumping out to a quick 5-1 lead to open the third set. NCCU looked like they were in control and that they owned the set. The set saw four tie scores and just one lead change.
The Eagles were in control for the entire set, not allowing Campbell to get ahead as the Camels managed to tie it on three occasions but were unsuccessful in obtaining the lead. With the Eagles up, 19-18, Campbell was forced to call a timeout, in order to find a way to break the Eagles’ momentum. The Camels were unsuccessful as NCCU continued to inch closer to the win.
As the Eagles stood with a two-point lead at 23-21, just two points away from taking the set, the Camels answered with two points of their own to knot the set at 23. The momentum began to change at that moment. With the home crowd behind them, Campbell struck again to take its first lead of the set, forcing a NCCU timeout.
With the Camels up, 24-23, they put the pressure on their Preseason All-A-Sun selection, who answered without any questions. Werner hammered the ball down, notching a kill, to finish the set as the Camels took a 25-23 win and claimed the match with a 3-0 sweep over NCCU, leaving the Eagles winless in Buies Creek.
NCCU returns to action this weekend when it hosts its annual NCCU Volleyball Tournament, which will take place Sept. 24-25. Joining the Eagles in this two-day event will be East Tennessee State, Hampton, Maryland Eastern Shore and South Carolina State. This weekend will conclude tournament play for the Eagles.
The Eagles will open with ETSU on Friday at 3 p.m., followed by South Carolina State at 7 p.m. The Eagles will kick-off Saturday action with Hampton at 1 p.m. and will conclude with Maryland Eastern Shore at 5 p.m.
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.
