Written by Staci Green
DURHAM, N.C.- The North Carolina Central University volleyball team swept the Savannah State University Tigers (25-22, 27-25, 28-26) in a tight, back-and-forth battle on senior day, Sunday, Nov. 9, in McDougald-McLendon Gymnasium.
The offensive attack was led by Kelsey Murphy (Rancho Cucamonga, California) with 13 kills and two service aces.
Aside from the kill performance, freshman Paige Phillips (Birmingham, Alabama) contributed 18 assists, while Melissa Rabell Pineiro (Canovanas, Puerto Rico) helped with 15 digs.
The opening set produced a minor challenge for the Eagles, as they lost their early 2-0 lead, trailing point-by-point.
The Eagles managed to knot the score at 10, but did not immediately advance over the Tigers. NCCU surpassed SSU after matching the score at 17.
With a total of four lead changes, the Eagles finished set one with an 8-5 run, and a score of 25-22.
SSU took another early, close lead in set two, but the Eagles did not let that determine the result. The second set battle produced 14 tie scores and NCCU fought for every point.
Senior Da'sha Brown (Gaston, South Carolina) aided the offense with four kills in the set, and the Eagles closed out set two in the extra points (27-25) with a service ace from Marilyn Sherbondy (Fayetteville, North Carolina).
NCCU led the match 2-0 at the 10-minute break.
The third set was nothing short of intense. The Tigers managed their usual early lead, but the Eagles had a response for every play, creating 12 tie scores and eight lead changes in set three.
SSU regained a late lead and worked their way to set point at 24-22 over the Eagles. A service error by the Tigers, followed by a NCCU kill from Brown drew the score to a tie at 24.
The crowd roared in support for the Eagles as they went back-and-forth in the extra points, finishing the set (28-26), and the match (3-0) with consecutive assists and attacks from Rabell Pineiro and Murphy, respectively.
NCCU volleyball earns the fourth spot from the southern division for the 2014 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament, scheduled for Nov. 21-Nov. 23 on the campus of Coppin State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
