DURHAM, N.C. – After nearly two weeks since its last competition, the North Carolina Central University volleyball team is back in action at the UNC Asheville Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9-10.  
 
The Lady Eagles are slated for three matches, beginning with a showdown against the host Bulldogs on Friday at 7 p.m. NCCU will play its finals two matches of the event on Saturday against Alabama A&M University (10 a.m.) and Stetson University (2:30 p.m.)
 
Fans will be able to listen to all three NCCU matches on the NCCU Sports Network with Mike Wood providing the play-by-play. UNCA sports information will also provide live stats for all three NCCU matches with the link showing up on the live stats webpage approximately 10 minutes before each first serve. Fans can follow NCCU volleyball all season by visiting NCCUEaglePride.com and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
SCHEDULE
 
Friday, September 9 | 7 p.m.
NCCU at UNC Asheville
AUDIO (NCCU Sports Network) | LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, September 10 | 10 a.m.
NCCU vs. Alabama A&M
AUDIO (NCCU Sports Network) | LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, September 10 | 2:30 p.m.
NCCU vs. Stetson
AUDIO (NCCU Sports Network) | LIVE STATS
 
N.C. Central Volleyball
 
NCCU dropped its first three matches of the season in straight sets at the James Madison University Invitational on Aug. 26-27. The Lady Eagles (0-3) lost to host JMU, College of the Holy Cross and Georgia State University.
 
Five players are averaging over one kill per set in senior Casey Curran (2.11), senior Kelsey Murphy (1.78), freshman Nia Singletary (1.67), Kierra Shipman (1.22) and Whitney White (1.11).
 
Murphy is a two-time All-MEAC honoree and ranks second on the team in points (2.00) and digs (1.78). Curran paces the Lady Eagles with 2.22 points per set.
 
Sophomore Jazmine Daye, who had a career match against Georgia State, was named to the JMU Invite All-Tournament Team. Daye leads NCCU with 0.56 blocks per set.
 
Junior Paige Phillips tops the Maroon and Gray with 5.44 assists per set. Sophomore Bree Simmons has taken over the libero duties for NCCU and currently leads the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with 4.56 digs per set.
 
NCCU is 0-4 all-time against UNC Asheville and last lost the Bulldogs, 0-3, at home in 2014. The Lady Eagles will be playing Alabama A&M for the first time and battling Stetson for just the second time, with the first encounter occurring on a neutral court in 2007 when the Hatters prevailed 3-1.
 
UNC Asheville Volleyball
 
The Bulldogs are 2-2 on the early season with losses to Georgia and San Francisco before defeating Savannah State and Montreat. UNC Asheville was 15-12 in 2015.
 
Cara Guthrie has started her sophomore season for the Bulldogs with a bang, averaging 3.50 kills, 2.50 digs and 0.64 aces per set. Seniors Madison Vaughn and Shelby Erickson compliment Guthrie by averaging over two kills per set as well. Vaughn also leads the squad with 0.71 blocks per set.
 
UNCA has been using a two-setter system with freshmen Kailey Hackett (5.00 assists/set) and Carter Kennedy (4.50) sharing the ball-handling duties.
 
Sophomore transfer Madisen Zyburt has anchored the Bulldogs defensive efforts with 4.79 digs per set.
 
Guthrrie and Hackett (0.58 aces per set) rank amongst the national leaders in aces per set.
 
Alabama A&M Volleyball
 
The Lady Bulldogs have started the season 1-8, with its only win coming against North Carolina A&T in five sets. Alabama A&M has lost five straight matches.
 
Senior outside hitter Ashundria McNeal, a 2015 First Team All-SWAC honoree, continues her strong career for the Lady Bulldogs by averaging 4.23 points per set, including 3.53 kills per set and 0.77 blocks per set.
 
Freshman Terra Brooks has opened up her collegiate career with an average of 1.43 kills per set, which is second on the team. Junior Riley Balsmeyer leads AAMU with 4.63 assists per set and freshman Nina Biggs brings a team-high 1.69 digs per set.
 
McNeal and Balsmeyer are the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week and Setter of the Week, respectively.
 
Stetson Volleyball
 
The Hatters have lost their first seven matches of the season in tournaments at Central Florida and San Francisco. Stetson (0-7) was 11-18 in 2015.
 
Senior Madison Akins, a 2014 Atlantic Sun Second Team All-Conference performer, headlines the Hatters with 2.70 kills and 0.78 blocks per set, while ranking second on the team with 1.83 digs per set.
 
Stetson has seven hitters averaging over one kills per set, with freshman Eva Deisa ranking second behind Akins with 2.10 spikes per set.
 
Senior libero Marissa Salazar (3.78 digs per set) and sophomore setter Roxy Lake (6.13 assists per set) anchor the Hatters specialty positions.