DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team is set to hit the road for the final matches of the regular season, beginning with a Tuesday, Nov. 8 contest against High Point at 7:00 p.m., in High Point, N.C.

The Eagles (3-24) return to action following a four-set (26-24, 25-22, 24-26, 25-17) loss to Florida A&M on Sunday, Nov. 6 in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium. 

In the final home contest of her career senior Emanuelle Santos provided her seventh double-double of the season with 14 kills and 12 digs.  While fellow seniors Santos, Shantel Moore, Tasha-Gaye Richards and Raven King, who finished the competition with the second-highest defensive accomplishment of her career with 19 digs, were honored for their contribution to the NCCU Volleyball program.

Moore also had an outstanding final-home performance with 10 kills and four service aces, while freshman Dayanna Arrufat topped the squad with 15 kills.  Richards assisted on five blocks and accumulated one solo block, as sophomore Jzima-Malaki Kalao delivered 42 assists.

This season, the Eagles are led by Arrufat, Kalao, and Richards.  Arrufat paces NCCU in kills (251), service aces (21) and digs (171), while Kalao leads the maroon and gray in assists with 530.  Richards has collected 53 blocks this season.

Collectively, the mighty maroon have amassed 944 kills, 854 assists, 129 service aces, 929 digs and 126 total blocks.

The Panthers (6-20) host the Eagles following a three-set (25-18, 25-22, 25-21) loss to Liberty on Saturday, Nov. 5 in Lynchburg, Va.

HPU’s offense is led by Courtney Johnk and Kristin Heldt, with Johnk gathering 261 kills and Heldt amassing 233 kills.  Lauren Bell has delivered 695 assists this season, while Johnk, Breanna Holliday and Michelle Chakirelis command the defensive effort.  Johnk and Chakirelis have blocked 51 opponents, while Holliday has gathered 323 digs.

As a unit, the Panthers have collected 1034 kills, 949 assists, 102 service aces, 1432 digs and 151.5 total blocks.

NCCU continues its three-match road trip with Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rematches with South Carolina State on Nov. 11 and Savannah State on Nov. 13.

After the match against SCSU, the Eagles will take part in the 2011 MEAC Conference tournament in Baltimore, Md., on Nov. 18-20.  This season’s appearance marks the Eagles’ first post-season play since the 2006 season, when the squad won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Title before transitioning to Division I.

Visit the official NCCU Athletics website www.NCCUEaglePride.com for up-to-date information on Eagle Volleyball.