ELON, N.C. — Freshman Celene Morris recorded a double-double in her first start at the setter position to highlight play for the North Carolina Central University volleyball team in a 3-1 loss to Gardner-Webb University in the Elon University Phoenix Classic Friday afternoon.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs improved to 3-1 with the 18-25, 25-18, 25-14, 26-24 while the Lady Eagles slipped to 1-3. NCCU will conclude play in the Phoenix Classic with two matches on Saturday, beginning with a showdown against host Elon at 12:30 p.m. before playing its finale against Evansville at 4:30 p.m.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Morris finished with 21 assists and 27 digs to complete her double-double. Both are season-high marks and she has reached double-digit digs in three straight contests.
 
Freshman Morgan Goodwin and junior Jessica Pilivi topped NCCU's attack with 10 kills apiece. Freshman Arlanda Faulkner chipped in six kills.
 
Four Eagles reached 10-plus digs as senior Erika Ianovale followed Morris with 20 digs. Pilivi completed a double-double with 14 digs and senior Bree Simmons tacked on 10 digs. Junior Whitney White was NCCU's top front-row defender with five blocks.
 
GARDNER-WEBB HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
The hitting duo of junior Hannah Lancaster and freshman Kylee Garrison paced the Runnin' Bulldogs attack with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Senior setter Amanda Sahm orchestrated the victorious attack with 35 assists. Lancaster added 16 digs for a double-double.
 
SET-BY-SET:
 
1ST: A kill by Goodwin capped a 7-2 run to push NCCU ahead for good at 8-6. A couple more spikes by Faulkner increased the Lady Eagle advantage to 12-8 before prevailing rolling to the seven-point win. The maroon and gray hit .385 in the opening set with Goodwin ripping five kills on six swings.
 
2ND: Four quick kills helped GWU jump out to a 5-1 advantage. The Lady Eagles fought back to level the set at 9-all, but the Runnin' Bulldogs won the next five serves to pull ahead for good before matching NCCU's first set score. The Lady Eagles cooled off to a .000 hitting percentage in the second stanza.
 
3RD: The Runnin' Bulldogs raced out to a 7-2 lead to keep the momentum. Gardner-Webb had NCCU doubled up 14-7 before settling for the
 
4TH: Gardner-Webb looked like it was going to complete the comeback in grand fashion by surging ahead 8-1 in the final set. However, a late 8-1 rally flew the Lady Eagles ahead 24-22 at set point. NCCU was unable to force a final set as the Runnin' Bulldogs barked back with the final four points with a pair of kills by Garrison and a couple NCCU errors.