GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team dropped ­­­­­a 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-10, 25-11) match, as the Eagles (0-17) opened Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on the road, falling to the North Carolina A&T Aggies (1-16) on Friday, Sept. 26 in Moore Gym.
 
NCCU opened the road-match scoring first during the opening set and leading for the majority of the game. The Eagles used a 3-0 run, tailed by a block from junior's Kelly Rossip (Port Charlotte, Fla.) and Denni Johnson (Ashburn, Va.) to seal the 25-21 victory.
 
With momentum in their favor, the Eagles took an early 11-4 lead to start off the second set.
 
The Aggies pushed out a 5-0 stretch to bring the game within two points.
 
Senior Da'sha Brown (Gaston, S.C.) broke the NCAT scoring run, although the Aggies answered with a 7-1 advantage, giving them the 16-13 lead.
 
NCAT continued to hold the second set advantage pulling away with the 25-22 win.
 
After the ten minute break, NCCU was unable to regain its offensive spark scoring 10 points in the third set and 11 during the fourth and final game.
 
The Eagles were led offensively by sophomore Kelsey Murphy (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) and Brown's 12 kills a piece, while Johnson added 11.
 
Rookie Paige Phillips (Birmingham, Ala.) dished a team-best 26 helpers during the loss, while on the defensive end junior Marilyn Sherbondy (Fayetteville, N.C.) picked up 15 digs/
 
NCCU returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 30 as the Eagles travel to Greenville, N.C., for a non-conference match-up with East Carolina at 7 p.m.