GREENVILLE, N.C. – Junior middle blocker
Jazmine Daye supplied the North Carolina Central University volleyball team with a match-high four blocks in a 3-0 road loss at East Carolina University Tuesday afternoon.
The Pirates hit .312 for the match while holding the Lady Eagles to a negative hitting percentage on the way to the 25-15, 25-15, 25-9 conquest. ECU improved to 7-4 and NCCU dipped to 0-11.
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
The Lady Eagles were held to a season-low 16 kills. Junior
Whitney White, junior
Kierra Shipman and freshman
Christine Alcox accounted for nine of the 16 spikes with three kills apiece.
Junior libero
Bree Simmons led NCCU's defensive efforts with 13 digs. She also had one of the Lady Eagles' two aces.
EAST CAROLINA HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Senior outside hitter Lael Ceriani paced the Pirates hot attack with 16 kills. She added 10 digs to complete a double-double. Freshman Bri Wood complimented Ceriani with nine kills.
Freshman setter Shelby Martin handed out 37 assists and sophomore libero Brandee Markwith tallied 19 digs.
Head coach Julie Torbett recorded her 400th career win with Tuesday's victory over NCCU.
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: NCCU only held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 after a kill by White. ECU quickly doubled up the Lady Eagles, 16-8, with a 15-6 run. Ceriani, who had six kills in the set, finished off the 10-point win with an ace.
2ND: A kill by Daye finished a 4-0 rally by NCCU to give the visitors its only lead at 4-3. The Lady Eagles were still in striking distance at 11-9 before the Pirates pushed away with an 11-1 run. ECU once again won by 10 points with Ceriani adding another seven kills.
3RD: ECU had its best set offensively with a .400 hitting percentage and NCCU committed more than twice as many errors (11) as kills (5) for a negative .176 hitting percentage as the Pirates coasted to the sweep with a 16-point triumph.
UP NEXT:
NCCU begins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division play by hosting rival North Carolina A&T State University on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m.
