DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team will begin the second half of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division play with a showdown against archrival North Carolina A&T State University on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.
MATCH INFO Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 PMN.C. Central at North Carolina A&T at
Corbett Sports Center in Greensboro, N.C.
LIVE AUDIO SERIES: NCCU pushed its commanding series advantage over NCAT to 10-games over .500 with a straight-set triumph at home on Sept. 25. The Lady Eagles won 25-17, 25-21, 25-20 to move to 14-4 against the Aggies in NCCU's modern era (since 2007).
North Carolina Central University Volleyball The Lady Eagles have dropped four consecutive contests, including a 3-0 non-conference tilt at Campbell University on Tuesday. NCCU (3-20 Overall, 2-3 MEAC) is in a three-way tie for third place in the Southern Division with NCAT and South Carolina State (top four teams in the division advance to the MEAC Tournament in November).
Junior outside hitter
Kelsey Murphy – a MEAC preseason all-conference snub after earning Third Team All-MEAC honors at the end of the 2014 season – is the league's leader in kills per set averaging 3.54 spikes per frame. Murphy also contributes 2.16 digs per set.
Senior
Kelly Rossip and freshman
Sydney Sumner provide over two kills per set for the Lady Eagles. Rossip tops the squad with 0.65 blocks per set and a .218 hitting percentage Sumner chips in over two digs per set as well.
Freshmen Kiera Shipman and
Whitney White add depth to NCCU's attack with over one kill per set.
Junior
Casey Curran continues her steady play at the setter position by averaging 7.52 assists per set and 1.60 digs per set. Defensively, senior
Marilyn Sherbondy (2.46 digs/set) and sophomore
Paige Phillips (1.86) add depth to the Maroon and Gray back line.
In September's sweep of NCAT, Murphy posted one of her five double-doubles on the season with 15 kills and 10 digs. Curran tallied 30 assists and Rossip tallied 10 kills, five blocks and two aces.
North Carolina A&T State University Volleyball The Aggies have lost four straight matches as well with their last setback coming against Elon on Tuesday. North Carolina A&T (4-11 Overall, 2-3 MEAC) is 3-2 at home.
The Aggies roster is centered on senior libero
Ashley Johnson, who is a MEAC preseason all-conference selection. Johnson – a four-year starter for NCAT and a MEAC All-Conference First Team selection in 2012 – ranks fourth in the league with 3.98 digs per set.
Senior Brooke Stamnes leads NCAT with 2.94 kills per set and 0.31 aces per set. She also produces 2.26 digs per set. Samara Brown follows with 2.50 kills per set on a team-best .221 hitting percentage. The Aggies have three other ladies averaging over one kill per set. Alyssa Pitt is amongst the league leaders with 0.87 blocks per set and is fourth on the team with 1.83 kills per set.
NCAT uses a two-setter system with Kayla Finnerty (7.62 assists/set) and Liz Martino (5.76 assists/set) having over 200 assists on the season.
