BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Freshman outside hitter
Da'Nesha Miller topped the North Carolina Central University volleyball team with seven kills, 11 digs and three blocks in a 3-0 loss to USC Upstate in the Lady Eagles final match of the AmericInn Runnin' Bulldog Classic Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans had to use a 12-5 closing run in the final set to complete the 25-22, 25-13, 25-23 straight-set victory. USC Upstate won its second straight match to improve to 2-4. NCCU departs the Gardner-Webb University campus at 0-6.
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Junior
Whitney White matched Miller with seven kills to top NCCU's attack. Junior
Erika Ianovale followed with six kills. Miller also paced the Lady Eagles defensively with 11 digs and three blocks.
Senior setter
Paige Phillips tallied assists on 25 of the Lady Eagles' 28 kills. Junior
Bree Simmons tacked on 10 digs and junior
Kierra Shipman chipped in seven digs and four kills.
USC UPSTATE HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
The Spartans made 63 digs in just three sets with senior libero Kaleigh Kelley coming away with a match-high 16 digs. Sophomore Montana Swanson and junior Callie Yeargin helped out with 14 digs apiece.
Freshman Lily Dempsey led Upstate's offense with 12 kills. Yeargin completed a double-double with 10 kills and freshman McKenna Kirkpatrick matched Yeargin with 10 spikes. Junior setter Madison Haake orchestrated the Spartans attack with 36 assists.
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: The seesaw affair featured 16 ties and nine lead changes. A kill by junior
Jazmine Daye provided NCCU with its last lead at 19-18, but the Spartans used five kills and a block during a 7-3 closing rally to win by three.
2ND: Upstate won the first four points and never trailed on its way to a convincing 12-point triumph. The Spartans hit .257 in the period while holding the Lady Eagles to a negative hitting percentage.
3RD: NCCU kept fighting and constructed a 14-9 advantage midway through the frame. The highlight of the match came during the Lady Eagles run as Ianovale made a bicycle kick saving play. The Lady Eagles continued to lead by five, 18-13, before the Spartans made their match-clinching 12-5 run. NCCU was just two points from closing the match out leading 23-21 after Miller's seventh kill, but Upstate won the next four serves. Dempsey provided the go-ahead and winning kills.
UP NEXT:
NCCU will visit Elon University for three matches in the Phoenix Classic on Friday-Saturday, Sept. 8-9.
