Box Score
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University senior setter Paige Phillips provided 17 assists and five digs in a 3-0 non-conference volleyball loss to visiting Elon University on Tuesday evening in McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
The Phoenix hit .362 to complete the season series sweep. Elon improved to 13-6 with the 25-21, 25-12, 25-13 triumph. The Lady Eagles kept the first set close by hitting .222 before negative hitting percentages in the second and third sets allowed the Phoenix to pull away in the final two stanzas. NCCU dropped to 0-13.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Junior middle blocker Whitney White led the Lady Eagles with 7.5 points. She had a team-high six kills and hit at a sizzling .455 rate. White also participated in two of NCCU's three blocks with a solo rejection and one block assist.
 
Junior Kierra Shipman netted all five of her kills in the first set before leaving the match in the second set due to injury. Junior Bree Simmons topped the squad with seven digs. Freshman Da'Nesha Miller chipped in four kills, four digs and NCCU's lone ace. Junior Erika Ianovale tallied five digs, with most of them being flashy saves.
 
ELON HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Senior Sydney Busa registered a double-double for the visitors. She posted her second straight 20-plus kill outing against NCCU with 20 spikes. Busa's 11 digs and two aces were also match-high marks.
 
Freshman Kodi Garcia netted 41 assists on Elon's 47 kills despite being called for five ball handling errors.
 
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: NCCU held an early 4-2 lead, but Elon led for most of the set. However, a ball handling error by Garcia had the Lady Eagles within one late at 21-20. The Phoenix pounded three consecutive kills from that point to pull up to set point before junior Kam Terry ended the four-point win with a kill.
 
2ND: Elon used a 9-0 run to construct a double-digit advantage at 18-8. Busa drilled seven kills for a second straight game as the Phoenix rolled by 13 points.
 
3RD: A Miller kill had the Lady Eagles leading early at 7-5. Elon catapulted ahead with the next six points and the Phoenix never let up in completing the sweep with the 12-point victory.
 
UP NEXT:
NCCU returns to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play by hosting South Carolina State University (Friday, 6 p.m.) and Savannah State University (Sunday, 1 p.m.) over the weekend.