DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team will play its final tune-up before beginning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play over the weekend with a non-conference clash against visiting Gardner-Webb University in McDougald-McLendon Arena Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.
NCCU will be providing pay-per-view video ($7.95) of the match along with free audio and live stats. NCCU Sports Network broadcaster Mike Wood will be on air with the play-by-play. Fans can follow NCCU volleyball all season by visiting
NCCUEaglePride.com and on social media at
Facebook,
Twitter and
Instagram.
PROMOTION
"Maroon Madness"
All fans are encouraged to wear Maroon in support of your NCCU Lady Eagles.
MATCH INFO
Tuesday, September 27 | 6 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at NCCU
VIDEO |
AUDIO |
LIVE STATS
N.C. Central Volleyball
The Lady Eagles have lost their last three matches, including their first two home contests. The Elon Phoenix and Winthrop Eagles both set season-high hitting percentages in their straight-set road wins over NCCU (1-7).
The senior pair of
Casey Curran and
Kelsey Murphy continue to pace the Lady Eagles attack. Curran tops NCCU with 2.40 kills per set and Murphy is contributing 2.16 points per set. They are aided by the sophomore middle blocker duo of
Whitney White (1.56 kills, 0.60) and
Jazmine Daye (1.40 kills, 0.48 blocks).
Junior setter
Paige Phillips has moved up to fourth in the MEAC with 6.96 assists per set while sophomore libero
Bree Simmons maintains her fifth slot in the MEAC with 3.76 digs per set.
NCCU is 0-5 against Gardner-Webb in its DI era (since 2007), including a pair of losses last season. Murphy did reach double-digit kills in both setbacks a year ago.
Gardner-Webb Volleyball
The Runnin' Bulldogs have alternated wins and losses over their last eight matches and are coming off a 3-1 home lost to Charleston Southern. Gardner-Webb (9-6) opened up Big South Conference play a week ago with a 3-0 win over Winthrop.
Redshirt freshman libero Emma Milstead has highlighted play for the Runnin' Bulldogs this season, ranking 13th in NCAA Division I with 5.33 digs per set. Milstead has been selected the Big South Conference Freshman and Defensive Player of the Week on separate occasions this season.
GWU has two players averaging over two kills per set in senior Taylor Lillard (2.69) and junior Nicole Celarek (2.02). A pair of front-row defenders are averaging nearly one block per set in junior Kaelyn Dyson (1.59 kills, 0.94 blocks) and classmate Hannah Driscoll (1.49 kills, 0.87 blocks).
Sophomore setter Amanda Sahm leads the Runnin' Bulldogs with 5.65 assists and 0.47 aces per set. Her 26 total service aces in 15 matches ranks 11th nationally. GWU has been using a two-setter system with classmate Tinsley Fain adding 4.43 assists per set.
Lillard had 17 kills in GWU's 3-1 home win against NCCU last season in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, while Dyson reached double-digit points in a 3-0 road win in Durham by totaling eight kills and four block assists.
