DURHAM, N.C. – Following a 3-0 loss to UNC Greensboro last week, the NCCU volleyball team looks to rebound this weekend as they face their toughest competition yet when they travel to neighboring Duke University to compete in the annual Duke Volleyball Invitational, Sept. 10-11 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
NCCU will face its biggest challenges of the season this weekend as they take on 12th-ranked Minnesota, tournament-host Duke, a top-50 program and Delaware, a Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) powerhouse. The Eagles will open the tournament with Minnesota on Friday at 5 p.m., followed by Duke at 10 a.m. on Saturday before concluding the tournament with Delaware at 5 p.m.
As the Eagles soar into Blue Devil territory this weekend, they will battle two first-time opponents in Big Ten-member Minnesota and CAA-member Delaware. As for Duke, it has been almost 30 years since the Battle of the Bull City took place on the volleyball court. Duke and NCCU haven’t met since October 27, 1982 when the Blue Devils defeated the Eagles, 2-0, by scores of 15-12 and 15-4. Duke holds a 6-0 advantage over NCCU.
The Eagles are coming off a 3-0 loss to UNC Greensboro and currently stand with a 1-5 mark on the season with their win coming against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Delaware State. NCCU has totaled 172 kills and 23 service aces, while collecting 218 digs and 34 blocks on the defensive end.
NCCU is led by the power attack of senior outside hitter Belinda Behncke-Biney, who has tallied one double-double and has earned an All-Tournament Team honor so far this season. She has 54 kills and six service aces to lead the way for the Eagles. She is one of two seniors on this year’s squad.
Contributing to the Eagle offense is freshman setter Jzima-Malaki Kalao, who has 127 assists on the season with 26 digs on the defensive end. She joins Behncke-Biney with an All-Tournament Team honor. The Bubendorf, Switzerland, native has also contributed on defense and behind the service line with five blocks and two aces.
The NCCU defense is anchored by senior Shantel Moore and junior Raven King. Moore, the Eagles’ strength on the net leads the team in blocks with 16, while King, NCCU’s libero, leads in digs with 52. Alexis John also adds to the Eagles’ defensive efforts with 43 digs.
Since the start of NCCU volleyball, the Eagles have faced just one nationally ranked opponent in program history and that was on September 14, 2007 at the Indiana University/Adidas Classic in Bloomington, Ind., where NCCU faced No. 23 St. John’s in their tournament opener. The Red Storm defeated the Eagles, 3-0, in the opener and went on to finish No. 13 in the country that year, while taking the Big East championship crown.
Minnesota comes into this weekend’s tournament action as the No. 12 team in the country, posting a 5-1 record with their only loss coming against No. 22-ranked Northern Iowa. They are 1-1 against ranked opponents this season, defeating No. 20 Dayton, 3-0, in their last match. The Golden Gophers return nine, including four starters from last year’s squad that went to the 2009 NCAA Final Four and finished the season ranked No. 4 in the nation.
Minnesota was ranked sixth to start the season and was picked to finish third in the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers are hammering a .314 on the season with 318 kills and 301 assists. Defensively, they have totaled 361 digs, while notching 56 blocks, including 15 solo. From the service line, Minnesota has tallied 16 aces.
They are led by the powerful defense of junior Jessica Granquist, who was named the Gopher Invite Championship Most Outstanding Player and just recently the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week. She has collected 100 digs this season. The Minnesota offense is anchored by sophomore outside hitter Tabi Love, who has notched 98 kills and is hitting .317 on the season, while contributing 53 digs on defense.
Duke, the tournament host, enters this weekend riding a six-match winning streak with its only loss coming in its season-opener to No. 17-ranked Colorado State. The Blue Devils stand at 6-1 on the season coming into their annual tournament. They already have one tournament crown as they claimed the Blue Raider Bash last weekend.
The 2009 ACC runner-up has been picked to battle Florida State for the 2010 ACC title. They return 11 from last year’s squad, including six starters. The Blue Devils are hitting a powerful .234 on the season with 348 kills and 327 assists. On the defensive end, they have notched 389 digs and 61.5 blocks.
Duke is led by Becci Burling and Kellie Catanach, who each earned Blue Raider Bash All-Tournament Team honors and are both 2010 preseason All-ACC selections. Burling, a senior middle blocker, leads the team with 81 kills and a .325 clip, while notching 27 blocks. Catanach has tallied three-straight double-double games and ranks second in the ACC in assists with 262, while collecting 55 digs.
Delaware enters this weekend’s action following a successful 4-0 week, including a Delaware Invitational Tournament title. The Blue Hens are 6-1 headed into the weekend, riding a four-match winning streak. Their only loss came in the Temple Tournament against ACC-member Virginia, falling, 3-1.
The Blue Hens are predicted to capture the CAA title this season and currently stand in second behind Towson, who is 9-0. Delaware is hitting .261 on the year with 323 kills and 298 assists. From the service line, they have totaled 40 aces. On the defensive end, the Blue Hens have notched 420 digs and 52 blocks.
They return five starters from last year’s squad that went 21-8, including senior middle hitter Paige Erickson, who was just named the CAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week. Erickson is hitting .318 on the year with 47 kills and 32 blocks. Her contributor is setter Jess Chason with 241 assists and 69 digs.
Live statistics will be available for each match through the volleyball page at www.NCCUEaglePride.com. For more information on Eagle Volleyball or for up-to-date scores and statistics on the NCCU Eagles, visit the official website of NCCU Athletics at www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
