DURHAM, N.C. – The South Carolina State University volleyball team held off a pair of NCCU set-point opportunities in the third set and eventually won it, 29-27, to complete a 3-0 sweep of the host Lady Eagles on Friday night in the L.T. Walker Complex.
The Lady Bulldogs (1-10 Overall, 1-2 MEAC) won the first two sets by scores of 25-11 and 25-16 en route to their first victory of the season. The Lady Eagles (2-16, 1-1) were unable to win for third time in their last four matches.
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:Junior setter
Casey Curran tallied 21 assists, four digs and four blocks (one solo, three assists). Classmate
Kelsey Murphy just missed her fifth double-double with 13 kills and nine digs.
Senior
Kelly Rossip and
Kierra Shipman added seven and five kills, respectively, on NCCU's attack.
Senior
Marilyn Sherbondy logged a team-high 12 digs and sophomore
Paige Phillips followed with 11 digs.
SCSU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:Senior setter notched a double-double of 30 assists and 11 digs. Senior Marissa Lawrence matched Murphy's 13 kills to share match-high honors. Sophomore Ashante Finnie totaled eight kills and 14 digs while classmate Kirby Anderson chipped in six kills and six blocks (one solo, five assists).
SET-BY-SET:1ST: NCCU was leading 6-5 when the Lady Bulldogs charged ahead with an 8-1 run. S.C. State extended its advantage to 10 points at 18-8 and rolled to the 14-point win. SCSU had 13 kills and only four hitting errors for a .429 hitting percentage while the Lady Eagles had as many misfires as spikes (six apiece).
2ND: SCSU won the first three points of the middle frame and never trailed. A Rossip kill pulled the hosts to within two at 12-10 but the Lady Bulldogs registered the next four points to stay in front before taking the commanding 2-nil set advantage with the nine-point win.
3RD: The much-closer third set fe4atured nine ties and four lead changes. S.C. State had the first opportunity at closing out the match at 24-23 but a block by Curran and junior
Jennifer Allison kept NCCu's hopes alive. The Lady Eagles then served for set point at 26-25 and 27-26 but the Lady Bulldogs barked back with a kill each time. A Lawrence kill put the visitors back ahead before a block by sophomore Kiana Stone ended the match at 29-27.
OTHER NOTES, STATS & FACTS: SCSU leveled the all-time Division I series against NCCU at eight wins apiece.
UP NEXT: NCCU hosts Savannah State University in another MEAC Southern Division contest on Sunday at 2 p.m. For complete information, fans are encouraged to visit
www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
