Box Score
PHOTO GALLERY by Dyann Busse, Red Rocket Photography
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University pushed the visiting Camels of Campbell University beyond regulation in each of the first two sets, but Campbell rallied each time to escape McDougald-McLendon Gym with a 3-0 (27-25, 28-26, 25-15) women’s volleyball victory on Tuesday night.
Sophomore
Dayana Arrufat Rondon amassed a match-high 16 kills along with eight digs for NCCU (1-8), while rookie
Christine Anthony added 14 kills, team-highs of nine digs and three service aces, and two blocks. Junior middle hitter
Kalin Russell contributed three kills and a team-best four blocks for the Eagles.
Campbell (4-4) used a balanced offensive attack, powered by sophomore Jessica Groen with nine kills. Junior Lindsey Coats posted eight kills and freshman Katelyn Layden collected eight kills and a match-high 13 digs. Junior setter Heather Wilson controlled the Camels’ offense with 30 assists to go along with five kills.
NCCU opened the match by scoring the first points and remained in control for most of the first set. Campbell chipped away at the deficit and pulled even with the Eagles at 18-18. The Eagles regained control by notching the next four points, capped by a kill by Arrufat, to go ahead 22-18.
NCCU had two set-point chances at 24-22, but the Camels fought back to tie the score at 24-24. Campbell took its first lead of the set at 26-25 thanks to a service ace by freshman Sam Zuber. Following an Eagles’ timeout, a kill by Coats provided the visitors with the first-set victory.
A thrilling second set saw 15 ties and six lead changes. Once again, NCCU had two set-point opportunities at 24-23 and 25-24, but Campbell answered the challenge each time and stole the second set 28-26.
In the third set, Campbell blew open a 9-7 advantage by scoring seven consecutive points during the service of Zuber to take a commanding 16-7 lead. That proved to be too much of a gap for the Eagles to overcome, as the Camels won the third set 25-15.
Up next for NCCU is a trip to Georgia for the Kennesaw State Owls Classic on Sept. 7-8.
