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DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University took advantage of a blistering start to capture its first women’s volleyball win of the season, a 3-0 sweep of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent Hampton University on Sunday afternoon inside McDougald-McLendon Gym on the campus of NCCU.
NCCU (1-4) scored the first five points of the match, the Eagles’ fifth contest in three days, to immediately take control. After a Hampton timeout, the Lady Pirates battled back to narrow the deficit to 7-5. That’s when NCCU rookie
Christine Anthony took over, as she served 10 straight points to provide the Eagles with a commanding 17-5 cushion. The Eagles went on to win the first set by a score of 25-16.
The second set was a back-and-forth affair that saw 13 ties and six lead changes. Late in the set Hampton led 22-21, but then committed three consecutive errors to put the Eagles ahead 24-22. With a boisterous home crowd pulling the Eagles to victory, a kill by Anthony sealed the second-set win, 25-23.
In the third set, the Lady Pirates held a slim 7-6 advantage when NCCU scored four straight points to open an 8-2 run, giving the Eagles a 14-9 lead. That margin proved to be too much for Hampton to overcome, as NCCU captured the third set 25-19 to end a three-match losing skid to the Lady Pirates. The Eagles’ last win over the MEAC northern division foe was on Oct. 4, 2009.
NCCU sophomore
Dayana Arrufat Rondon recorded a match-high 15 kills, while fellow sophomore
Ashley McCarthy tallied 11 kills and six digs. Anthony finished with 10 kills for the Eagles, junior middle hitter
Kalin Russell dominated the net with five blocks, and freshman setter
Melissa Rabell Pineiro distributed 32 assists along with five digs and four kills.
Hampton (1-3) was paced by Ioana Kalfinova with 10 kills and five digs.
NCCU now prepares for the Elon Phoenix Classic on Friday-Saturday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1 when the Eagles challenge the University of Alabama, Elon University and Gardner-Webb University.
