COACH HOLMES POSTGAME INTERVIEW

KELSEY MURPHY POSTGAME INTERVIEW

DURHAM, N.C. – Despite a high intensity, hard-fought third set, the North Carolina Central University volleyball team dropped its first match of the 2014 season, falling 3-0 (25-16, 25-14. 25-17) to the Campbell University Fighting Camels on Friday, Aug. 29, during day one of the NCCU Invitational in McDougald-McLendon Gym.

Sophomore outside hitter Kelsey Murphy (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) led the way for the Eagles offense finishing the night with a game-best nine kills, hitting .269 over the course of the match, committing just two errors on her 26 attempts.

The senior duo of Ashley McCarthy (Elmont, N.Y.) and Da'sha Brown (Gaston, S.C.) tailed Murphy, combining for nine additional kills with five and four respectively.

In spite of the fast tempo and long rallies in set one, NCCU got out to a slow start on the offensive end, relying on its defense to keep the match within reach. As the Eagles trailed by four at 14-10, Campbell took advantage of NCCU's offensive struggle, going on an 11-5 run, earning the 25-16 set one victory.

In set two, a back-and-forth battle at the service line swapped the score three times during the opening points, as the set saw four ties and three lead changes early on. With the score knotted at five, Campbell rallied on a 6-2 run, gaining momentum to finish out the set on top, 25-14.

Nine errors at the service line in the final frame plagued the Eagles offensive comeback.

NCCU pulled ahead of the Camels three times early on in the set, but were never able to reclaim the lead despite 10 ties throughout the contest.

After a timeout from head coach Nicki Holmes, as Campbell led 17-15, Brown connected on a pass from McCarthy closing the gap to one. The Camels continued to capitalize on Eagle errors, carrying them on an 8-1 run to seal the third set and 3-0 match victory.

McCarthy and redshirt junior Melissa Rabell Pineiro (Canovanas, Puerto Rico) led NCCU with eight digs a piece, while both setters senior Alice Genna (Rome, Italy) and rookie Paige Phillips (Birmingham, Ala.) saw action for the Eagles during opening day, combining for 17 assists.

"We didn't get the result we wanted," said Holmes. "But I believe the process is a good component of our training method.

"We expect to battle," Holmes added, referencing tomorrow's two-game slate. "But we are going to defend our turf and protect the nest."

NCCU returns to the court tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 30, as they wrap-up opening weekend. The Eagles open against Wofford at 1 p.m., followed by a nightcap versus Valparaiso at 7 p.m.