DURHAM, N.C. – Three Lady Eagles were honored before Sunday's Senior Day match and then several underclassmen helped the North Carolina Central University women's volleyball team secure postseason play for the hosts with a 3-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division win over Savannah State University.
 
The Lady Eagles hit a season-high .333 in defeating the Lady Tigers by a final score of 25-19, 20-25, 25-16, 25-20. NCCU (5-13 Overall, 4-3 MEAC) moved over .500 in the league and will return to the MEAC Tournament with the triumph after missing the tourney last season. Savannah State (1-25, 1-8) was eliminated from postseason consideration.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Several Lady Eagles had personal best performances during the season's final game inside McDougald-McLendon Arena. Sophomore middle blocker Whitney White led all players with a career-high 20 kills while hitting a staggering .500. Junior setter Paige Phillips tallied career-best marks of 44 assists and six kills. Freshman outside hitter Kennedy White launched four aces and made 10 digs, which were also new best figures.  
 
Seniors Kelsey Murphy, Casey Curran and Ashley Johnson were recognized by NCCU prior to the match. Murphy went on to blast a season-high 15 kills. Curran netted her third double-double of her final campaign with 10 kills and a match-high 15 digs.
 
Sophomore Jazmine Daye chipped in a solid performance with five kills and a team-best four blocks (one solo, three assists).
 
SAVANNAH STATE HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Freshman Dominique Ingram led the Lady Tigers with 14 kills. Senior Justice Dilworth just missed a double-double with nine kills and 14 digs. Junior setter Alee Quint finished with 31 assists and senior Caitlynn Masoe logged six kills, 12 assists and nine digs.
 
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: White served up three aces during an opening 8-1 run and NCCU coasted to the six-point. The Lady Eagles hit .406 in the frame with Whitney White (6 kills), Murphy (5 kills) and Curran (4 kills) combining for 15 spikes.
 
2ND: NCCU jumped out to a quick 6-1 edge to start the set before the Lady Tigers clawed back to level the match. With the score deadlocked at 13-all, Savannah State won the next six points to pull away. Sophomore Chinenye Ofodile had five of her eight kills in the triumphant set for the visitors.
 
3RD: The Lady Eagles heated back up in the third set, hitting .435 to regain the lead with a dominating nine-point win. The two squads were once again tied at 13-13, but this time NCCU went on a 5-0 surge that featured a kill and two blocks by Phillips. Whitney White and Murphy both had four kills.
 
4TH: NCCU never trailed for a second straight set and a 6-0 rally on the service rotation of Bree Simmons allowed the Lady Eagles to double-up SSU, 12-6. Simmons used two consecutive aces during the decisive rally. White pounded down seven kills in the final set to keep the maroon and gray ahead from that point.
 
OTHER NOTES, STATS & FACTS:
NCCU is 13-1 against Savannah State since joining the DI ranks (2007-present).
 
UP NEXT:
NCCU will play its final non-conference match of the season at Elon on Tuesday at 6 p.m. For more information, fans are encouraged to visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.