DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore setter Paige Phillips just missed a double-double and the North Carolina Central University volleyball team held multiple point leads in all three sets, but visiting East Carolina University rallied each time to sweep the non-conference match, 3-0, to spoil the Lady Eagles home opener at the L.T. Walker Complex Tuesday night.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Phillips totaled 26 assists and nine digs in just missing her third career double-double by one dig.
 
Junior outside hitter Kelsey Murphy led NCCU's attack with 15 kills. A trio of Lady Eagles in senior Kelly Rossip, freshman Whitney White and freshman Sydney Sumner followed Murphy with six kills apiece.
 
Sumner lifted up a team-best 13 digs, which was a season-high mark. White participated in two of NCCU's three blocks on the evening. Four different Lady Eagles accounted for the squads four aces. Freshman Tamika Brekke chipped in nine digs.
 
NCCU (0-4) remained winless on the season.
 
ECU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
The Pirates hit .298, served up nine aces and made eight team blocks to comeback in each set and stay undefeated on the season.
 
Team leaders for ECU (2-0) sophomore Natalie Montini with 11 kills, junior Sabrina Gonzalez providing 31 assists, sophomore Alex Jessett serving up four aces, junior Ashley McRae tallying four block assists and senior Erika Figueroa making 21 digs.
 
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: NCCU led 12-8 after an 8-4 run that featured a pair of kills by Sumner and a service ace by freshman Kierra Shipman. ECU won the next four points to knot the score for one of 10 times in the set. The Lady Eagles regained the lead for the final time at 15-14 and two squads were deadlocked for the final time at 18 apiece before the visitors closed the opening game on a 7-3 surge. Murphy had eight of her 15 kills in the first set.
 
2ND: The middle frame started off close before NCCU used a 9-4 run to build its largest set lead of the match at 17-11 that was capped with a spike by White. The Pirates charged back, winning the next six points before another kill by White gave the Lady Eagles their last lead at 18-17. The two teams were still tied at 20-20 before ECU won five of the next seven serves to squeak out the win. White totaled five kills in the set.
 
3RD: NCCU won the first two points but the Pirates quickly took control doubling up the Lady Eagles, 16-8, midway through the period. ECU had its best hitting set, firing at a rate of 429, to close out the match with a 12-point set victory.
 
OTHER NOTES, STATS & FACTS:
ECU started an all upperclassmen lineup compared to NCCU's starting seven having four freshmen.
 
The Pirates improved to 5-0 against the Lady Eagles in NCCU's Division I era (since 2007).
 
UP NEXT:
NCCU will play three matches in the Phoenix Classic hosted by Elon University over the weekend. The Lady Eagles will begin play against Wake Forest University on Friday at 4:30 p.m. NCCU will play two more matches on Saturday including host Elon at 12:30 p.m. and Charleston Southern University at 4:30 p.m.