DURHAM, N.C. – Junior Kelsey Murphy blasted a match-high 11 kills for host North Carolina Central University, but Gardner-Webb University spoiled the Lady Eagles first match in the newly renovated McDougald-McLendon Arena with a straight-set, non-conference victory Wednesday night.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs improved to 7-14 overall with their third straight win taking the 3-0 triumph by set scores of 25-18, 25-18 and 25-23. The Lady Eagles drop to 3-19 overall after committing nearly as many hitting errors (22) as kills (25).
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Murphy tallied a match-high 13.5 points with 11 kills, the Lady Eagles only two service aces and one block assist. Senior Kelly Rossip followed with 11 points, featuring eight kills and four blocks (two solo, two assists).
 
Senior libero Marilyn Sherbondy notched a match-high 19 digs. Junior setter Casey Curran added five digs and a team-best 23 assists. Freshman Sydney Richardson had her most productive match with one kill on two swings and three blocks (one solo, two assists).
 
GWU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
The Runnin' Bulldogs produced 12 blocks including their 12th one on match-point to hold NCCU to a .031 hitting percentage. Junior Jene Lee highlighted the front-row defense with eight blocks in the first two sets (one solo, seven assists), which matched a season-high total. Sophomore Justine Bowers contributed five block assists and sophomores Kaelyn Dyson and Sydney Marshall each chipped in four block assists.
 
Gardner-Webb hit .163 for the match with Bowers setting up the attack with 29 assists. Senior Tyra Montour led a balanced offense with nine kills; Dyson pounded down eight kills; and junior Taylor Lillard ripped six kills as seven Runnin' Bulldog hitters posted multi-kill performances.
 
Senior Anna Pashkova anchored GWU's back row with 13 digs and Marshall served up three aces.
 
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: Lee recorded five of her nine blocks in the first set, including her only solo block to break a 9-9 tie and start a momentum-shifting 8-2 run. Despite a trio of kills by Rossip and Murphy, NCCU was held to a negative attack in losing the first set by seven points.
 
2ND: Murphy started the middle frame with a kill and the Lady Eagles jumped out 3-0. Gardner-Webb knotted the score five times early but kills by Rossip and Curren put NCCU back ahead 9-7. The visitors fought back to take its first lead before two consecutive aces by Murphy leveled the score for the eighth and final time at 15-all. The Runnin' Bulldogs, who hit .257 in the set, won the next five points and raced away to another seven-point conquest to take the commanding 2-nil set advantage.
 
3RD: NCCU had its only positive hitting set in the third to keep the final game the closest. Gardner-Webb never trailed in the set. However, the Lady Eagles remained within striking distance by never allowing the deficit to grow to more than four points. NCCU then clawed its way back into the second half of the set, thanks in part by a half dozen kills by Murphy. A block by Murphy and Richardson eventually tied the set at 23-23. Gardner-Webb called a timeout and came out refocused to claim the match with points off a Dyson kill and a block by Montour and Marshall.
 
OTHER NOTES, STATS & FACTS:
GWU remained undefeated against NCCU in the Lady Eagles NCAA Division I era at 5-0.
 
The match also served as a Dig Pink game for NCCU, in which the Lady Eagles did their annual contribution to help bring awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
 
NCCU was playing its first match in McDougald-McLendon Arena this season as installation of a new floor and LED lights were completed over the last couple months.
 
UP NEXT:
NCCU travels to Buies Creek, North Carolina, for a non-conference tilt at Campbell University on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. For more information, fans are encouraged to visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.