ELON, N.C. — Freshman outside hitter Arlanda Faulkner smashed eight kills for the North Carolina Central University volleyball team in a 3-1 loss to University of Evansville in Saturday's finale of the Elon University Phoenix Classic.
 
The Purple Aces won for the second time Saturday with the 25-12, 18-25, 25-17, 25-17 triumph. Evansville departs at 5-2 overall while the Lady Eagles will return to Durham for their home opener on Sunday. NCCU (1-5) will host East Carolina University at 3 p.m.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Faulkner added two aces, a solo block and two block assists to her team-high eight kills for a 12-point performance. She filled up the box score with a season-high 12 digs.
 
Junior Jessica Pilivi also had a strong showing with seven kills, 11 digs and two solo blocks. The middle blocker duo of senior Whitney White and Morgan Goodwin chipped in six kills apiece. White finished with a team-best six blocks. Freshman Estfania Louis tallied four kills and three blocks.
 
In the specialist roles, freshman setter Celene Morris contributed a match-high 29 assists and senior libero Erika Ianovale scooped up 16 digs.
 
EVANSVILLE HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
The Aces posted a .213 hitting percentage. Junior Rachel Tam and senior Rocio Fortuny pounded down 13 kills to share game-high honors and senior Mildrelis Rodriguez followed just behind with a dozen spikes.
 
Senior Olivia Goldstein led all defenders with 24 digs.
 
SET-BY-SET:
 
1ST: Evansville jumped out 5-1 and never trailed. The Purple Aces hit .406 in prevailing by 13 points.  
 
2ND: The Aces grabbed an early 3-nil lead, but NCCU responded with the next five points to race ahead for good. The Lady Eagles made six blocks in the frame and started to heat up offensively with a .111 hitting percentage to level the match with the seven-point set win. Goodwin and freshman Estfania Louis both ripped three kills in the frame.
 
3RD: NCCU continued to improve its attack, hitting at a .139 clip. The Lady led 14-12 at the midway point. Evansville responded by winning the next six points to start a closing 13-3 run. The Purple Aces fired at a .355 rate in sealing the eight-point set to regain the match edge.
 
4TH: The Lady Eagles won the first four points and led as late as 9-7 on a Faulkner kill. The Aces responded with 10 straight points to slingshot ahead 17-9 before closing out their second 25-17 win.