BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team had big performances out of senior Kelly Rossip, junior Kelsey Murphy and freshman Sydney Sumner, but the Lady Eagles were unable to slowdown a hot-hitting Runnin' Bulldogs attack in a 3-1 non-conference loss at Gardner-Webb University Tuesday night.
 
Gardner-Webb (3-5 Overall) hit nearly 200 points better than their previous best performance on the season to knock off NCCU (0-8) by scores of 25-12, 25-17, 19-25 and 25-14.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Murphy paced the Lady Eagles for a seventh straight contest with her 13 kills. Sumner spiked down a season-high 12 kills and Rossip followed closely with 11 kills.
 
Rossip added a career-high 14 digs for her first double-double at NCCU (two seasons).
 
Junior Paige Phillips supplied 30 assists and freshman Tamika Brekke logged a match-high 20 digs.
 
GWU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
The Runnin' Bulldogs hit .371 for the match beating their previous best mark of .173, which was against Southeast Missouri State University. Junior Taylor Lillard led Gardner-Webb with 17 kills. Sophomore Sydney Marshall followed with 11 kills on 14 attempts for a staggering .786 hitting percentage.
 
Sophomore Justine Bowers tallied 44 assists and senior Anna Pashkova totaled 19 digs.
 
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: The opening set had three early ties but the hosts never trailed. A Sumner kill pulled NCCU to within a point at 9-8 early and the Lady Eagles were still in striking distance at 16-12 before Gardner-Webb close out the 13-point win with nine consecutive points. The Runnin' Bulldogs had 11 kills on 22 swings without an error for a .500 hitting percentage. 
 
2ND: The second period started off close again, featuring seven ties and NCCU's only lead of the frame at 8-7. Gardner-Webb was clinging to a 13-12 edge when the Runnin' Bulldogs raced away by winning the next three points to start a 12-5 closing run to take the commanding 2-nil set advantage.
 
3RD: NCCU finally started to cool off the Gardner Webb's attack in the third while the Lady Eagles offense started to heat up. Sumner had six kills in the third to help NCCU extend the match with a six-point win. The third set was the only game in which the Lady Eagles (.190 hitting percentage) fired at better percentage than the Runnin' Bulldogs. The hosts led as late at 12-11 but NCCU won the next point to tie the set up for the 10th time and start a 7-0 run to pull away. The decisive rally featured three kills by Murphy.
 
4TH: Gardner-Webb regained the momentum by hitting .424 and once again never trailing in the final set. A kill by Murphy leveled the score for the only time at 11-all before the Runnin' Bulldogs earned the next three points to recapture the lead and starting a 14-3 surge to finish off the match.
 
OTHER NOTES, STATS & FACTS:
Pashkova set a new GWU NCAA Division I record. Her 19 digs surpassed the school record of 1,875 career digs and she was recognized for the achievement late in the third set. Pashkova currently has 1,877 career digs.
The Runnin' Bulldogs remained undefeated against NCCU since the Lady Eagles started competing at the DI level (since 2007), improving their mark to 4-0.
 
UP NEXT:
NCCU returns home and will host Alabama State University on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. in the L.T. Walker Complex. Admission is free and for more information please visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.