Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team wrapped up the 2014 opening weekend, dropping an afternoon match to the Wofford Terriers 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-17) before falling in the nightcap to the Valparaiso Crusaders 3-1 (25-14, 25-18, 23-25, 25-19) during day two of the NCCU Invitational, on Saturday, Aug. 30 in Durham.

In game one, the Eagles struggled to get things rolling early on dropping the first two sets 25-13 and 25-14.

NCCU relied on the consistency of senior Da'sha Brown (Gaston, S.C.) and junior Kelly Rossip (Port Charlotte, Fla.), as the duo combined for nine kills, on 22 attempts while only committing one error a piece.

A late rally in the third set, led by Rossip's back-to-back solo blocks, sparked the Eagles intensity, but NCCU was unable to close the gap on the Terriers 3-0 sweep.

During the NCCU Invitational finale contest, the Eagles battled with Valpo, giving the Crusaders a hard-fought, four set battle.  

In the first frame, the Eagles jumped out on top early, pulling ahead 8-4 after two consecutive service aces from sophomore Kelsey Murphy (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.).Valpo remained in the contest, answering the NCCU run with one of its own, before the score saw a stand still at nine a piece.

The Crusaders continued to their rally, posting an 8-0 run midway through the first set and eventually pulling away with the 25-14 victory.

Set two mirrored the first with the Eagles scoring first on two Ashley McCarthy (Elmont, N.Y.) kills followed by a back-and-forth point swap until the score knotted at 10. Yet again NCCU was unable to get over the hump, allowing Valpo to carry their momentum onto a 25-18 victory.

Trailing in the match 2-0, the Eagles refused to slow their tempo as NCCU captured its first set victory of the 2014 season in the third.

McCarthy put on a stellar performance in the third set, as her eight kills was one shy of the Crusaders' set three total, and during her 12 attempts she only committed one error, hitting and impressive .583 during the set. NCCU earned the thrilling 25-23 victory during set three, forcing a fourth.

Like clockwork for the Eagles, the first nine points were exchanged back-and-forth before Valpo pulled ahead by as many as five. With the margin cut two, at 20-18, NCCU's comeback battle was cut short when the Crusaders used a 5-1 to seal the set and match victory.

McCarthy finished the Valpo contest with a game-high 15 kills in addition to her four digs and four blocks, earning her a spot on the 2014 NCCU Invitational All-Tournament team.

Trailing McCarthy offensively, Murphy and Brown finished with their first double-doubles of the season as the sophomore/senior duo finished with 12 kills and 10 kills apiece.

Junior Melissa Rabel Pineiro (Canvanos, Puerto Rico) earned a game-high 16 digs for NCCU during game two, while rookie Paige Phillips (Birminigam, Ala.) made an immediate impact for the Eagles program, pacing the offence with a game-best 40 helpers.  

NCCU returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 2 as the Eagles travel to Radford, Va., for their first road match-up of the season against Radford at 7 p.m.