BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Veterans highlighted play for the North Carolina Central University volleyball team in a 3-0 loss to Tennessee Tech University in the Lady Eagles second match Friday at the Hampton Inn Holly Springs Invitational hosted by Campbell University.
 
The Golden Eagles hit .364 and held NCCU to a negative hitting percentage on the way to a 25-17, 25-13, 25-16 triumph. TTU starts its season 1-0 while the Lady Eagles ends its first day of the season at 0-2.
                                                            
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Senior setter Paige Phillips logged 14 assists, five digs, one kill, one ace and one block assist. Junior outside hitter Kierra Shipman ripped a team-high five kills while classmate Bree Simmons made 10 digs and served up two aces from the libero position.
 
TENNESSEE TECH HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
The hot-hitting Golden Eagles were orchestrated by junior setter Susie Jeziorowski's 31 assists. Freshman Taylor Houck and junior Shaelene Little paced the attack with 10 and nine kills, respectively.
 
SET-BY-SET:
1ST:  A couple errors gave NCCU the early 2-0 edge, but Tennessee Tech quickly claimed its own two-point advantage at 6-4 and stayed in front all the way to the eight-point win. The early lead in the first was the only time NCCU led all match.
 
2ND: The Golden Eagles quickly doubled up the Lady Eagles, 10-5, before flying away to their biggest win of match by 12 points.
 
3RD: NCCU and TTU managed three ties early before the Golden Eagles took the lead for good at 5-4. An ace by Simmons had the Lady Eagles trailing by just two at 16-14 before Tennessee Tech finished off the match on a 9-2 surge.
 
UP NEXT:
NCCU will conclude play in the Hampton Inn Holly Springs Invitational against the host Camels on Saturday at 11 a.m.