Box Score
DURHAM, N.C. – Senior setter Paige Phillips and junior libero Bree Simmons tallied match-high totals from their respective specialty positions to highlight play for the North Carolina Central University volleyball team in a 3-1 loss to Gardner-Webb University inside McDougald-McLendon Arena Tuesday.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs had to rally 24-26, 25-19, 25-20, 25-18 in order to complete the home-and-away series sweep of the Lady Eagles. Gardner-Webb (6-5) moved over .500 for the first time this season with its fourth straight win. NCCU (0-10) remained winless.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Phillips finished with 34 assists and Simmons supplied 25 digs.
 
Freshman Da'Nesha Miller paced a balanced NCCU's attack with 11 kills. Freshman Christine Alcox flirted with double-double, totaling nine kills and 19 digs. Junior Whitney White logged seven kills and four blocks, junior Erika Ianovale netted six kills and classmate Kierra Shipman chipped in five kills.
 
GARDNER-WEBB HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
The Runnin' Bulldogs made 13 blocks on its way to the victory. Sophomore Molly Johnston and junior Kiera Moore, who teamed up for numerous combo blocks, finished with nine and eight block assists, respectively.
 
Senior Nicole Celarek topped all players with 14 kills. Johnston spiked 11 kills and Moore managed 10 kills. Gardner-Webb hit .215 with junior Amanda Sahm engineering the attack with 34 assists. Sahm completed a double-double with 14 digs and served up a match-high three aces. Sophomore libero Emma Milstead registered a team-high 23 digs.
 
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: The Lady Eagles needed three chances at set point to finally seal the 26-24 opening win. Ianovale ripped the go-ahead kill and White finished off the period with a kill. Miller had six of her 11 kills in the first game.
 
2ND: The second set mimicked the first set with eight ties and four lead changes. However, Gardner-Webb came out on top with a 10-3 run to end the stanza.
 
3RD: The Runnin' Bulldogs had its best hitting set at .262 to lead most of the way and grab control of the match.
 
4TH: The visitors started the final set on a 4-0 run and never trailed. NCCU pulled to within one at 14-13, but Gardner-Webb once against used a late 11-5 surge to finish off the match.
 
UP NEXT:
NCCU travels to East Carolina University for a 4 p.m. showdown with the Pirates in Greenville, North Carolina, on Tuesday, Sept. 19.