Box Score Match Statistics
WASHINGTON, D.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team struggled to compile a complete game during their first match of the George Washington Invitational on Friday, Sept. 2 on the George Washington campus in Washington, D.C.
NCCU fell to Central Connecticut State in three straight sets (10-25, 20-25, 20-25) in the Charles E. Smith Center.
The Eagles delivered their lowest hitting percentage of the season with 29 errors over 24 kills. Freshman Dayanna Arrufat paced the offense with nine kills over five errors.
In spite of the uncommon offensive campaign, the mighty maroon found success in blocking, collecting eight team blocks over Central Connecticut State’s three team blocks. Senior Tasha-Gaye Richards, sophomore Kalin Russell and freshman Ashley McCarthy seized three block assists apiece.
Sophomore Jzima-Malaki Kalao returned to the role of primary setter for the Eagles, distributing 18 assists in the match.
Arrufat and Kalao led the NCCU digs with nine digs apiece.
In the opening set of the match, the maroon and gray struggled to from the first contact, with five reception errors and serve receive passes that sent Kalao chasing down each pass just to keep the ball in play.
The Eagles gradually put all aspects of the game together, finding their serve receive composure and establishing a better offensive flow. As NCCU lowered their reception errors to zero, the overall hitting percentage increased. In set two of the match the Eagles hit 45 percent and progressed again to 51 percent during set three.
The maroon and gray provided their best performance in set three, taking the lead twice and a three-point margin lead with a score of 18-15. Nevertheless, attack errors put Central Connecticut State back in the lead to cruise to a five-point win.
Outside hitter Emily Cochran paced the Connecticut-based Blue Devils offense with seven kills. Setter Danielle Gasser followed with six kills, while middle hitter Jamie Rademacher and right-side hitter Sara Delacey concluded the match with five kills apiece.
Along with her hitting efforts, Gasser also orchestrated the offense, circulating 25 assists on the night.
Continuing to provide a complete game for Central Connecticut State, Gasser and libero Brittany Schumacher paced the defense with eight digs apiece.
Rademacher and Delacey led the blocking campaign, accumulating three blocks apiece.
The Eagles drop to 0-6 on the season, while the Blue Devils advance to 2-2.
NCCU returns to the GW court on Saturday, Sept. 3 to conclude the two-day tournament, NCCU battles host team George Washington at 12:00 p.m. and UNC Wilmington at 5:00 p.m.
For complete results, updated statistics and live video streaming of the NCCU Volleyball team, visit the official athletics website at
www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
