DURHAM, N.C. – The age-old rivalry continues as the North Carolina Central University volleyball team returns home to face the rival Aggies of North Carolina A&T in an Eagle/Aggie conference-opening battle, Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. in Durham, N.C. Admission is free.

During the 2012 campaign, NCCU went 2-0 versus NCA&T with a road victory on Sept. 28, 2012, 3-2 (28-30, 25-22, 14-25, 25-23, 16-14) and a home win on Oct. 26, 2012, 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-15, 25-22).

Friday will mark both the Eagles and the Aggies first look at Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference competition.

On the season, the Eagles (0-16) are anchored by the junior/senior duo of Da'sha Brown and Kalin Russell. Brown leads the team with 120 kills, averaging 2.45 kills per set while Russell has contributed a team second-best 100 kills (2.04 per set).

Contributing to the offensive success Brown and Russell is the junior/sophomore setting duo of Alice Genna and Melissa Rabell Pineiro, who have dished a total of 337 out of the Eagles' 370 total assists with 204 and 133 respectively.

On the defensive end, rookie Kelsey Murphy leads the way digging 104 of the opponents' attacks, averaging 2.12 per set. Showing her strength on the net and contributing to the blocking game of the Eagles on the defensive end is junior Ashley McCarthy with the team-high of 35 blocks, nine solo, averaging .71 per set.

As a team, the Eagles have amassed 409 kills, averaging 8.3 per set, while dropping in 35 service aces. Defensively, they have notched 538 digs and 71.0 blocks.

The Aggies (1-15) earned their solo victory on Sept. 6 against Alabama State, 3-2 (28-26, 26-24, 17-25, 23-25, 16-14) during the Ashford Suites Aggie/Spartan Invitational in Greensboro, N.C.

Leading the way for the Aggies offensively is Brooke Stamnes and Aleena McDaniel who have each contributed 122 NCA&T kills on the season. Stamnes has also earned a team-high 12 service aces and McDaniel has collected a team second-best 115 digs.

Liz Martino has circulated 263 assists for the Aggies while the NCA&T's defensive threats are Ashley Johnson who has dug 210 attacks (3.96 per set) and Te'Borah Hawkins who has earned 27 blocks, eight solo, .69 per game.

 As a team, the Aggies have 430 season kills, 395 assists and 33 service aces. Defensively, they have notched 649 digs and 56.0 blocks this season.