HARRISONBURG, Va. – Kelsey Murphy started her senior season with a seven-kill performance and sophomore Kierra Shipman matched her career-high mark with seven digs for the North Carolina Central University volleyball team in a 3-0 road loss to host James Madison University in the JMU Invitational on Friday afternoon.
 
The Dukes dominated the first two sets before holding on in the third to complete the victory in straight sets by scores of 25-12, 25-12 and 25-21. The match was the first of the season for both programs.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Murphy accounted for seven of the Lady Eagles 17 kills as NCCU was held to a negative hitting percentage. Senior classmate Casey Curran followed with four kills.
 
Shipman led NCCU's defensive efforts with seven digs and one block assist.
 
Junior Paige Phillips chipped in 11 assists, four digs and two kills.
 
JMU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Senior Janey Goodman, the reigning Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, produced nearly a sets worth of points for the victorious Dukes. Goodman supplied 17 kills, four aces and three block assists for 22.5 points. The three-time All-CAA performer hit .556 for the match and added five digs.
 
James Madison finished with a .333 team hitting percentage.
 
Sophomore setter Tilbe Yaglioglu had a strong debut for the Dukes with 17 assists and junior Taylor Austin notched 10 digs.
 
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: A kill by Curran pulled the Lady Eagles within four points, 14-10, of the Dukes midway through the opener before JMU pulled away with an ensuing 9-0 run. Goodman posted five kills on seven swings to help the Dukes pull away.
 
2ND: James Madison scored the first three points of the middle frame and quickly pulled out to a double-digit advantage at 15-5 before coasting to another 13-point win. Goodman and Murphy both had their strongest set of the match for their respective squads with Goodman blasting 11 kills and Murphy spiking five.
 
3RD: The Dukes were in for a much tougher fight in the third despite constructing a 22-14 cushion late in the match. NCCU kept fighting and used a 6-1 run to pull within three at 23-20. A block by Shipman and sophomore Jazmine Daye capped the rally before a service error gave JMU the ball and Goodman then pounded down her 17th kill on match-point.
 
OTHER NOTES, STATS & FACTS:
Friday's opener marked the debut for NCCU first year head coach Jody Brown.
 
JMU is 2-0 all-time against NCCU with both 3-0 wins coming in Sinclair Gym.
 
The Dukes were 22-8 last season and are the defending CAA regular season co-champions.
 
UP NEXT:
NCCU plays a second match Friday against College of the Holy Cross at 5 p.m., before JMU concludes play on day one against Georgia State University at 7:30 p.m. For more information, fans are encouraged to visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.