Box Score
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The North Carolina Central University women’s volleyball team rallied from behind to capture a dramatic third set victory en route to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 29-27) sweep of Bethune-Cookman University on Friday in Daytona Beach, Fla.

NCCU received solid contributions from a host of Eagles, including new season-best performances by junior Kalin Russell and redshirt freshmen Denni Johnson and Melissa Rabell Pineiro.

Russell smashed a season-high four service aces, while adding eight kills and five blocks. Johnson dominated the net with a season-best six blocks, including an assisted rejection with sophomore Ashley McCarthy on the final point of the 29-27 third set, to go along with eight kills. Rabell amassed a season-high 22 digs to lead the Eagles’ defensive effort.

Among the other top contributors for NCCU were rookie Christine Anthony with 14 kills and seven digs, sophomore Dayana Arrufat Rondon with nine kills and six digs, freshman Marilyn Sherbondy with 12 digs, and sophomore Alice Genna with 38 assists.

The victory lifts the Eagles’ Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference record to 5-2, avenging an earlier season loss to league foe Bethune-Cookman.

NCCU will have the opportunity to redeem its other conference setback on Sunday (Nov. 4) by visiting Florida A&M at 3 p.m. The Eagles dropped a five-set thriller to the Rattlers on Oct. 5 in Durham, N.C.

In Friday night’s action, Bethune-Cookman held an 8-6 lead in the opening set before the visiting Eagles rolled of six unanswered points to take control of the set with a 12-8 cushion. The home team trimmed the deficit to two points at 20-18, but NCCU scored the final five points, including a kill and a pair of aces by Russell, to earn the first set, 25-18.

In the second set, NCCU clung to a slight 10-8 advantage before netting five straight points to extend the lead to 15-8. The Wildcats managed to narrow the gap to three points, including as late as 23-20, but Russell closed out the second set with another ace for a 25-21 score.

The climactic third set featured 15 ties and five lead changes. The Eagles trailed 23-21, but tallied three consecutive points for a 24-23 advantage. The Wildcats answered the challenge to extend the third set. NCCU had four chances to end the match, but Bethune-Cookman responded each time. Finally, courtesy of an Anthony kill and a combined block by Russell and McCarthy, the Eagles celebrated the hard-fought road victory.