DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University volleyball team played three much closer sets than the first meeting on Sept. 1, but visiting Elon University was still able to depart McDougald-McLendon Arena with the same 3-0 result Wednesday evening.
 
The Phoenix were never behind on the way to the 25-18, 25-18, 25-15 victory. Elon, who beat the Lady Eagles by set scores of 25-10 ,25-13 and 25-15 in the first meeting, moved back over .500 at 10-9 on the season.
 
NC Central (4-15) next visits the Sunshine State for a pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Southern Division clashes at Bethune-Cookman University (Friday, Oct. 26, 6 p.m.) and Florida A&M University (Sunday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m.).
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Sophomore Christine Alcox paced a balanced attack for the Lady Eagles with nine kills. Senior Whitney White followed with seven kills and freshman Morgan Goodwin totaled five kills while freshmen Arlanda Faulkner and Estfania Louis both produced four kills.
 
Goodwin led all players with six blocks (one solo, five assists). Freshman setter Isis Mitchell totaled 23 assists and senior libero Erika Ianovale accounted for nine digs.
 
ELON HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Sophomore Madi Genaway pounded down a match-high 10 kills in just two sets played. Freshman Kellyn Trowse followed with seven kills.
 
The Phoenix hit .304 as a team with 45 kills. Sophomore Kodi Garcia orchestrated the hot-hitting attack for the first two sets with 25 kills while freshman Haylie Clark chipped in 14 assists over the final two sets. Sophomore Isabella Seman had a strong performance with match-best totals of 14 digs and six aces.
 
SET-BY-SET:
 
1ST: Elon quickly doubled up the hosts, 10-5. The Lady Eagles kept fighting and a block by Goodwin and Louis pulled NCCU within three at 20-17. However, the Phoenix finished the opener on a 5-1 rush that included a set-ending kill by Genaway, her seventh spike of the set.
 
2ND: Just like the first set NCCU was tied with Elon once, but the Lady Eagles once again were never in front. The Phoenix finally broke away from a close set midway through the middle stanza. Elon scored six straight points on Seman's service rotation to construct a 20-13 advantage before winning by that same seven-point margin again.
 
3RD: The visitors jumped out to a quick 7-1 advantage, forcing NCCU to an early timeout. Two consecutive kills by Alcox helped the Lady Eagles rally within three at 13-10. However, Elon scored the next three points out of a timeout and two more aces by Seman helped the Phoenix complete the sweep with the 10-point triumph.