DURHAM, N.C. - North Carolina Central University volleyball junior Da'sha Brown collected her season-first hit/dig double-double during the Eagles heartbreaking final non-conference five-set loss to the Radford University Highlanders 3-2 (23-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-7, 15-11) on Tuesday, Oct. 1, in Durham, N.C.

Brown finished the contest with 10 kills, 14 digs, one service and one block assist.

Senior Kalin Russell led NCCU's offense with a team-high fourteen kills while also contributing nine digs, two service aces and a game-high seven blocks. Junior Ashley McCarthy also added to the offense for the Eagles with 10 kills, eight digs, one service ace and four blocks.

Contributing to the offensive success was junior setter Alice Genna who collected a team-high 36 assists along with 11 digs, one service ace and four blocks.

For the second straight match, rookie Kelsey Murphy led on the defensive end for the Eagles collecting a team-high 15 digs.

The Eagles commanded the first set of the match, never trailing the Highlanders, and pulling off a 25-23 victory. McCarthy led NCCU during game one hitting a perfect 100 percent with four kills and no errors on four attempts.

After a slow start during set two, the Eagles took control of the game going ahead by as many as ten with a 25-21 win and a 2-0 match lead over RU.

Following the ten minute intermission, NCCU lost steam returning to the court from the locker room never leading during set three (25-18) or four (25-7) as the Highlanders tied up the match at 2-2.

During the decided fifth set, the Eagles and RU battled through six ties and four lead changes as the Highlanders pulled off the 15-11 victory and winning the non-conference match-up over NCCU, 3-2.

Collectively, the Eagles notched 45 kills with 34 errors on 153 attempts, 42 assists, five service aces, 70 digs and a season-high 11 team blocks.

RU was led by Rachel Wiechecki and Cheyanna James who each collected double-doubles for the Highlanders. Wiechecki finished with a team-high 14 kills and 15 digs while James earned 12 kills, 12 digs and five blocks. Jena Braden circulated 40 assists and four blocks for RU while Kelby Jackson dug 19 NCCU kills.

As a team, the Highlanders collected 57 kills on 157 attempts with 24 errors, 51 assists, 67 digs, three service aces and 13 team blocks.

NCCU returns to action on Friday, Oct. 4, as they continue Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play in Tallahassee, Fla., taking on the Rattlers of Florida A&M at 7 p.m.