GREENSBORO, N.C. – Junior Kelsey Murphy was one dig shy of a double-double but 50 combined errors by North Carolina Central University led to a 3-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Southern Division loss to host North Carolina A&T State University Friday evening in the Corbett Center.
 
The Aggies (5-11 Overall, 3-3 MEAC) move ahead of the Lady Eagles (3-21, 2-4) in the divisional standings with the 25-16, 17-25, 25-19, 25-18 win.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Murphy – the league-leader in kills per set – produced a team-high 13 kills and tallied nine digs and four blocks (two solo, two assists). Freshman Kierra Shipman had the Lady Eagles hottest hand with nine kills on 19 swings with just one error for a .421 hitting percentage. Senior Kelsey Murphy and freshman Sydney Sumner chipped in six and four kills, respectively.
 
Senior Marilyn Sherbondy tallied a season-high 20 digs to lead all defenders. Rossip added three block assists on the front row defense. Sophomore Paige Phillips matched Murphy with nine digs and Sumner scooped up seven.
 
Junior libero Casey Curran notched 31 assists.
 
NCAT HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Alyssa Pitt and Brooke Stamnes both put down 15 kills to account for 30 of the Aggies 43 spikes. Stamnes supplied 14 digs to complete a double-double. Pitt made a match-high six blocks (two solo, four assists).
 
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: A Shipman kill had the Lady Eagles within two at 13-11 before NCAT closed the set on a 12-5 surge.
 
2ND: NCCU had its most productive set, hitting .370 to tie the match with the eight-point win. The Lady Eagles had 14 kills in the set, including four by Shipman and three apiece by Rossip and junior Jennifer Allison.
 
3RD: The Maroon and Grey attack turned ice cold in the third set with just five kills and nine errors on a  negative .125 hitting percentage to allow NCAT to go back on top.
 
4TH: The Aggies pounded down 13 kills for a second straight set to finish off the match. Stamnes had five kills and two aces in the period.   
 
OTHER NOTES, STATS & FACTS:
The two teams have split the regular season series for a second straight season with the home team winning all four matches. NCCU still controls the NCAA Division I era series against NCAT with a 14-5 advantage since 2007.  
 
UP NEXT:
NCCU plays its final two league road matches next weekend, visiting South Carolina State University (Friday, 7 PM) and Savannah State University (Sunday, 1 PM). For more information, fans are encouraged to visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.