Box Score DURHAM, N.C. (www.NCCUEaglePride.com) – North Carolina Central University seniors Emanuelle Santos and Shantel Moore led the Eagles to a three-set (25-14, 25-17, 25-15) victory on Friday, Sept. 23 over the Aggies of North Carolina A&T State University in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.
The three-set win marks the first win of the season, as well as the first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play win.
The mighty maroon achieved their first win of the season hitting a season-high 42 percent, while collecting a season-high 14 service aces.
Santos has gradually become a force for NCCU and Friday’s contest is a highlight for the season. The Rio de Janeiro native led the Eagles with 12 kills on 15 attempts with one error, for a season-high 73 percent. Adding to her stellar performance, Santos gathered seven digs and four service aces.
Moore continues to paces the maroon and gray hitting campaign, finishing the night with 11 kills on 19 attempts with only three hitting errors, while assisting on three blocks.
NCCU sophomore Jzima-Malaki Kalao distributed 26 assists in the win. Defensively, senior Raven King collected seven digs, while fellow senior Tasha-Gaye Richards sealed four block assists.
The Eagles maintained control of the MEAC matchup from the first serve to the final kill.
In set one of the match, NCCU paced to a five-point led with a score of 11-6, forcing the Aggies to take a timeout. Following the timeout, the mighty maroon kicked-up their offense with NCCU going 12-for-18 and Santos pounding an overpass back into Aggies hardwood for an 11-point set win, 25-14.
Set two began with a few NCCU errors, with the Aggies leading 2-0. But Richards ended N.C. A&T’s quick run with a kill. After five blue and gold errors and a kill by freshman Dayanna Arrufat, who finished the night with six kills, the Eagles gained the lead and never looked back. NCCU took set two, 25-17.
The Eagles returned to the court after a 10-minute intermission with ease, Kalao began the set sending two service aces to the Aggies.
With the momentum on their side, NCCU quickly paced to a four-point lead at the 9-5 mark, with North Carolina A&T committing five consecutive errors and taking a timeout.
The Eagles concluded the set hitting 37 percent, going 8-for 19 to cruise to a final 25-15 set win.
The Aggies, who decline to 0-16 on the season, were led by sophomore Jenea Daniels. Daniels finished the night with seven kills. Sophomore setter Chelsea Fox circulated 15 assists, while collecting two service aces. Defensively, sophomore Murphye Williams tallied five digs, as Daniels seized one solo block and one block assists.
N.C. A&T totaled 22 kills, four service aces, 17 digs and three team blocks, while NCCU amassed 35 kills, 14 service aces, 25 digs and five team blocks.
The Eagles concluded their three-match home stand with a 7:00 p.m. contest against Radford on Tuesday, Sept. 27 in McDougald-McLendon Gym, where they hope to gain their second win of the season.
Visit the official NCCU Athletics website
www.NCCUEaglePride.com for up-to-date information on Eagle Volleyball.
