DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – Off the heels of a difficult weekend, the North Carolina Central University volleyball team looks obtain their second win of the season with a Tuesday, Oct. 4 in a 7:00 p.m. matchup against the Spartans of UNC Greensboro in Fleming Gymnasium.
The Eagles (1-17) return to action following a 0-4 setback during the Hawk Invitational hosted by Maryland Eastern Shore on Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Princess Anne, Md. While the maroon and gray could not find success as a unit, senior Emanuelle Santos continued to be a stellar force for the Eagles, collecting two double-double outings with 12 kills and 10 digs against Hampton (Sept. 30) and a season-high 13 kills and 15 digs against California State Bakersfield (Sept. 30).
NCCU concluded the two-day event with a three-set (25-9, 25-20, 25-19) loss to Alabama State on Saturday, Oct. 1.
This season, the maroon and grey is led by freshman Dayanna Arrufat and sophomores Jzima-Malaki Kalao and Kalin Russell. Arrufat paces NCCU in kills with 148 kills on the season for an average of 2.55 kills per set, while leading in digs with 103. Kalao leads the Eagles in assists (272) and service aces (33), while Russell guides the blocking campaign with 28 total blocks this year.
Collectively, the mighty maroon have amassed 541 kills, 491 assists, 74 service aces, 561 digs and 79 total blocks.
Four student-athletes pilot the Spartans; Karrian Chambers, Ari Lysacek, Kellie Orewiler, and Morgan Freeman. Chambers leads the offense with 198 kills this season and averaging 2.96 kills per set, while Lysacek has distributed 471 assists this year. Defensively, Orewiler has dug 302 opponents’ attacks, while Freeman has accumulated 53 total blocks. Orewiler also paces the serving game with 25 service aces.
As a unit, UNC Greensboro has collected 839 kills, 783 assists, 96 service aces, 1002 digs and 110 total blocks.
Tuesday’s matchup marks the beginning of a three-match road trip. Following the Eagles versus the Spartans contest, NCCU will travel to Florida to battle Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foes Bethune-Cookman on Oct. 9 at 3:00 p.m. and Florida A&M on Oct. 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Visit the official NCCU Athletics website www.NCCUEaglePride.com for up-to-date information on Eagle Volleyball.
