DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – The North Carolina Central University women’s volleyball team kicks off the 2011 campaign with fifth annual Hilton RTP/ NCCU Volleyball Tournament on Aug. 26-27 in Durham, N.C., in the McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium on the NCCU campus.
This year, the Eagles welcome the Phoenix of Elon (SoCon), the Camels of Campbell (Big South), the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun) and the Pirates of Hampton (MEAC), over two days of competition.
“As in years past, we are opening our season with some great competition,” said NCCU head volleyball coach Georgette Crawford-Crooks. “I believe it is important to start with tough competition in the beginning of the season, so we can identify the areas that require improvement early on to prepare us for conference play.”
Elon returns to the tournament for the third year in a row. The Phoenix enter the tournament coming off a 2010 North Division SoCon title. In the three years that Elon has competed in the Hilton RTP/NCCU Volleyball Tournament, Elon has won the tournament two years in a row, 2009 and 2010.
While Campbell enters the tournament for the first time, the Camels and the Eagles are not strangers. The two squads last met on Sept. 21, 2010, on the Campbell campus in Buies Creek, N.C., where the mighty maroon fell in three sets.
Florida Gulf Coast also enters the tournament for the first time. The Florida-based Eagles meet the host Eagles for the second time in four years. During the 2007 campaign FGC defeated NCCU in three sets in Fort Meyers, Fla.
NCCU also welcomes Hampton for the first time to the season-opening event. The two MEAC teams last met on Oct. 2 of the 2010 campaign, during the UMES Hawk Invitational hosted by Maryland Eastern Shore . The Pirates defeated the Eagles in three sets in Princess Anne, Md.
The tournament begins with four matches on Friday, Aug. 26. Elon opens the tournament with back-to-back to play, battling Hampton at 11:00 a.m. and Florida Gulf Coast at 3:00 p.m. The host Eagles face Campbell in game one of the season at 5:00 p.m. Florida Gulf Coast returns to the court for a 7:00 p.m. match against Hampton.
The weekend continues with five matches on Saturday, Aug. 27. The mighty maroon face the defending Hilton RTP/NCCU Volleyball Tournament champions Elon at 9:00 a.m. Campbell and Hampton compete at 11:00 a.m. The host Eagles and the Florida-based Eagles take the court at 1:00 p.m. Elon and Campbell play their final matches of the weekend with a 5:00 p.m. matchup. At 7:00 p.m., NCCU plays its first MEAC match of the season against Hampton to conclude the tournament.
Since the mighty maroon began hosting the Hilton RTP/ NCCU Volleyball Tournament in 2007, the host Eagles have yet to retain the trophy. NCCU enters the tournament with a record of 5-12 as the host team.
“Our key to success this weekend and this entire season will be consistency,” said Crawford-Crooks. “Volleyball is a game of consistency and we must focus on that concept each time we step on the court.”
Crawford-Crooks has seven returners from last season. Coming off a record of 9-25, the Eagles are striving forward with the mindset of “One Team…One Mission.”
This season’s leadership will come from seniors Shantel Moore, Tasha-Gaye Richards and Emanuelle Santos. Moore, who ended the 2010 campaign early due to injury, will be key to filling the vacancy left by Belinda Behncke-Biney. Santos, who is listed as a utility student-athlete, will show her versatility and athleticism as a defensive specialist this season. In her final season as an Eagle, Richards returns to the middle position as the second strongest solo blocker with 10 blocks during the 2010 season and third in blocking assists with 50.
Sophomores Kalin Russell and Jzima-Malaki Kalao will mix into the starting six on a more consistent basis this season.
Ensuring the offense flows efficiently will be the job of Kalao, who finished the 2010 season with 948 assists.
“After a solid year of running the offense under her belt, Jackie (Jzima-Malaki) has a better understanding of her role and what I expect from her as a leader on the court,” said Crawford-Crooks.
Russell, who will have duties on the right side, will find the core of her responsibilities as a middle hitter.
Maroon and gray fans will be excited to see a talented class of six newcomers to the program; Melissa Rabell, JaNae Raynor, Denni Johnson, Malessa Clary, Dayanna Arrufat and Ashley McCarthy. This weekend, Eagle fans will gain a glimpse of Arrufat, who is expected to start in the outside hitting position, while Johnson and McCarthy will sub in the rotation as well.
Fans of the mighty maroon can listen to each bump, set and, spike on Friday, Aug. 26, from the voice of NCCU Athletics, Chris Hooks by visiting Game Central at www.NCCUEaglePride.com at 4:45 p.m., 15 minutes prior to the first serve in McDougald-McLendon Gym.
Spectators that wish to come out to McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium for the two-day tournament can find parking in the lower level of the NCCU parking deck on the corner of Lawson and Lincoln Streets. Access to the lower level of the deck can be reached from Lawson Street.
Friday, August 26
11:00 a.m. Elon vs. Hampton
3:00 p.m. Elon vs. Florida Gulf Coast
5:00 p.m. NCCU vs. Campbell
7:00 p.m. Florida Gulf Coast vs. Campbell
Saturday, August 27
9:00 a.m. NCCU vs. Elon
11:00 a.m. Campbell vs. Hampton
1:00 p.m. NCCU vs. Florida Gulf Coast
5:00 p.m. Elon vs. Campbell
7:00 p.m. NCCU vs. Hampton
