DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — North Carolina Central University senior middle blocker
Whitney White pounded down a season-high 17 kills in Friday's 3-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) road loss at Bethune-Cookman University.
The Wildcats avenged a 3-2 loss to the Lady Eagles on Sept. 28 with the 25-20, 28-26, 20-25, 25-18 triumph. BCU (12-13 Overall, 4-2 MEAC) is the preseason favorite in the MEAC Southern Division.
NC Central (4-16, 2-4) next plays at Florida A&M University on Sunday at 1 p.m.
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
White was three kills shy of her career-high kill total with her 17 spikes Friday. She added three block assists for a total of 18.5 points.
Freshman outside hitter
Arlanda Faulkner chipped in nine kills and a match-high three aces while classmate
Estfania Louis matched her season-best output with eight kills. Fellow rookie
Morgan Goodwin tallied six block assists to go along with six kills for nine points.
Freshman setter
Isis Mitchell contributed a new season-high 40 assists and just missed a double-double with nine digs. Senior libero
Erika Ianovale topped the maroon and gray with 17 digs and freshman
Celene Morris scooped up 13 digs.
BETHUNE-COOKMAN HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Sophomore Jordan Jefferson led the Wildcats with a double-double of 15 kills and 16 digs. Sophomore setter J'Nai Higgins supported the Wildcats with her own double-double of 39 assists and 10 digs. Senior Meraiah Hill had a big defensive match on the front row with 10 block assists.
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: The two teams were tied 14-14 before BCU scored the next four points to start a closing 11-6 run to take the initial advantage.
2ND: NCCU led as late as 18-17, but the Wildcats answered with a 7-4 run to serve for set point. However, the Lady Eagles held off set point twice on the hosts and then had a chance to level the score with a 26-25 edge. However, Bethune-Cookman won the next three serves to claim the extended set.
3RD: NC Central controlled the third set to extend the match. The Lady Eagles quickly had the Wildcats doubled up, 10-5, and led by as many as seven before settling for the five-point win. NCCU served up four aces in the triumphant game.
4TH: BCU bounced back by starting the fourth on a 6-nil run. The Wildcats never trailed on the way to the seven-point victory.
