DURHAM, N.C. – Back-to-back double-digit kill performances from senior outside hitter Belinda Behncke-Biney wasn’t enough for the North Carolina Central University volleyball team (3-16) as they were swept by Hampton University (2-16) and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (8-9) in doubleheader action Saturday afternoon to conclude the 2010 NCCU Volleyball Tournament at McDougald-McLendon Gym.
Hampton earned its second win of the year as they came from two sets back to defeat NCCU, 3-2, by scores of 14-25, 19-25, 25-16, 25-23 and 17-15. The Pirates improved to 2-16 on the season. The Eagles concluded the tournament with a 3-0 loss to Maryland Eastern Shore by scores of 25-23, 25-16 and 25-16, dropping to 3-16 on the season, while the Hawks improved to 8-6 on the season.
East Tennessee State University took home the NCCU Volleyball Tournament title as they went a perfect 4-0 over the two-day event, followed by Maryland Eastern Shore with a 3-1 mark. Hampton and NCCU both earned one win in the tournament as the Pirates recorded a 1-2 mark and the Eagles recorded a 1-3 mark. South Carolina State finished winless as they notched a 0-3 mark in tournament play.
Behncke-Biney earned All-Tournament Team honors for the third time this season and the fifth time in her NCCU career as she hit .240 on the weekend with 65 kills, averaging 4.06 per set, eight service aces and two blocks. The senior recorded double-digit kills in three of the four matches this weekend, including two 20-kill outings.
Against Hampton, Behncke-Biney paced the Eagle offense as she hit .297 with a career-high 27 kills and six service aces. Contributing to the success of Behncke-Biney was freshman setter Jzima-Malaki Kalao with a match-high 42 assists as she stood just three dishes away from tying her season high.
The defensive side of the ball was controlled by the duo of Emanuelle Santos and Raven King, who combined for 32 of the Eagles’ 42 digs. Santos recorded a season-high 12 digs, while King added 10. NCCU showed its power on the net once again as they out-numbered the Pirates in blocks, 8-4. Junior middle hitter Sashalee Wallen did her job as the NCCU blocking threat with a match-high five blocks, followed by Tasha-Gaye Richards with three.
NCCU hit .193 on the day with 53 kills and 26 errors. They out-numbered Hampton in just about every category as they collected 47 assists, nine service aces, 42 digs and eight blocks. Hampton was held to a .168 hitting percentage with 51 kills and 28 errors, while tallying 48 assists, five service aces, 48 digs and four blocks.
Hampton was led by none other than Cary, N.C., native Aaryn Harrison, who notched a double-double with 20 kills and 10 digs, while hitting a .295 on the day. She was assisted by Lihi Elkayam with 39 dishes. Along with Harrison, Ivana Suput and Sheileen Pagan combined for 23 digs to round out the Pirates’ defensive efforts.
When it comes to the Battle of the Birds, Maryland Eastern Shore has always managed to come out on top and it wasn’t any different on Saturday as the Hawks defeated the Eagles in perfect fashion. NCCU still remains winless against Maryland Eastern Shore in program history with the Hawks claiming a 5-0 lead.
In her outing with the Hawks, Behncke-Biney notched a .357 clip with 13 kills and just three errors to lead the Eagle offense, marking her third double-digit kill performance in four matches. She also had two service aces. Santos and Maritsann Sinclair each added nine kills as NCCU totaled 35 kills and just 11 errors for a .267 hitting percentage.
Kalao collected 28 assists to lead the Eagles in that category, while Wallen anchored the blocking game with three blocks. King and Santos each recorded seven digs to combine for 14 of the Eagles’ 29 digs.
Defensively, the Eagles held Maryland Eastern Shore under .300 hitting and forced 15 errors, but the Hawks remained calm as they dropped in 10 service aces and recorded 39 digs. Their offense notched a .276 with 42 kills, but the defense was held without a single block on the night.
Maryland Eastern Shore’s unselfish offense allowed for three double-digit kill performances, while their all-around defense allowed for two double-figure dig performances. Maline Vaitai and Samantha Chukwura collected 11 kills apiece, while Kaveigna Lea’Aetoa added 10 for 32 of the Hawks’ 42. Rebecca Prado and Jingqiao Li each contributed 10 digs to account for 20 of the Hawks’ 39.
The 2010 NCCU Volleyball All-Tournament Team is made up of NCCU’s Behncke-Biney, ETSU’s Whitney Cogburn, Maryland Eastern Shore’s Chukwura, Hampton’s Harrison and South Carolina State’s Jarne Gleaton. ETSU’s power hitter Alysa Long was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
NCCU will return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 28 when they travel down the road to face the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest University. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Reynolds Gym. The Eagles look to snap their two-match losing skid as they face a tough team in Atlantic Coast Conference-member Wake Forest.
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.
