ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Freshman
Whitney White led the North Carolina Central University volleyball team with season-high totals of nine kills and five blocks in a 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) loss at South Carolina State University on Friday evening in Dukes Gym.
The Lady Bulldogs moved a half-game ahead of the Lady Eagles for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Southern Division standings. SCSU (3-17 Overall, 3-5 MEAC) completed the regular season series sweep over NCCU (3-22, 2-5) with the 25-23, 25-17, 25-19 win.
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:White pounded down her nine kills on 19 swings with just two errors for a .368 hitting percentage. Her one solo block and four block assists also marked a new season-best block total for the rookie.
Senior
Kelly Rossip spiked eight kills on 17 attempts with just one mistake for a .412 hitting percentage.
However, the Lady Eagles other two top attackers in junior
Kelsey Murphy and
Sydney Sumner both hit in the negative despite tallying five and four kills, respectively.
Sumner led NCCU with 10 digs and junior setter
Casey Curran totaled 27 assists.
SCSU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:The Lady Bulldogs offense fired with a .221 precision. Five SCSU players recorded at least five kills, including a match-high 10 kills by Kirby Anderson. She finished with 14 points, adding seven blocks (one solo and six assists).
Melanie Williams guided the hot-hitting attack with 29 assists.
SET-BY-SET:1ST: The close opener featured eight ties with a block by Murphy and White knotting the scoreboard for the final time at 23-all. S.C. State responded with a kill and block to escape with the two-point win.
2ND: The Lady Bulldogs led from the onset and hit .303 to take the middle frame.
3RD: A kill and two blocks by White helped NCCU double up the hosts early, 8-4, but the Lady Bulldogs barked back with a 9-2 run to jump ahead for good. SCSU increased its lead to as many as nine before completing the sweep with the seven-point win.
OTHER NOTES, STATS & FACTS: South Carolina State has taken over the series lead since NCCU joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 2007 at 9-8 with the series sweep.
UP NEXT: NCCU visits MEAC Southern Division rival Savannah State University on Sunday at 1 p.m. For more information, fans are encouraged to visit
www.NCCUEaglePride.com.
