ORANGEBURG, South Carolina - Redshirt junior Denni Johnson (Ashburn, Virginia) earned a career-best five service aces, while tying the North Carolina Central University single-game high in the Division I era, as the Eagles (1-21,1-4 MEAC) suffered a 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-22) setback to the South Carolina State University Lady Bulldogs (2-18, 2-3 MEAC) on Sunday, Oct. 12, in Orangeburg, South Carolina.

NCCU opened the first set on a 4-0 run, headed by two Johnson aces, maintaining the lead for the remainder of the game. The Eagles took a 1-0 match advantage after a 25-23 first set victory.

After a back-and-fourth battle during the opening points of the second set, the Lady Bulldogs pulled away from NCCU, tying the match, with a 25-23 win.

An Ashley McCarthy (Elmont, New York) kill opened the third set, as the Eagles and SCSU knotted the score 15 times during the game, and exchanged seven lead changes. With the score tied at 24, the Bulldogs scored three-straight, to pull out the 26-24 victory.

With the 2-1 match lead, SCSU maintained its edge, capturing the fourth set victory, 25-22, sealing the match victory, 3-1.

In addition to the five service aces, Johnson also added a team-best 14 kills while McCarthy trailed with 12.

Paige Phillips (Birmingham, Alabama) and Alice Genna (Rome, Italy) split time at the setter position dishing 20 and 17 helpers respectively.  

Defensively, Melissa Rabell Pineiro (Canovanas, Puerto Rico) amassed ten digs while Kelly Rossip (Port Charlotte, Florida) collected four blocks.

The Eagles return to the court on Wednesday, Oct. 15 as NCCU hosts Charleston Southern during the Eagles "Dig Pink" game at 5 p.m., in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.