DURHAM, N.C. — Trailing 8-5 in the fifth set, freshman
Alyssa Pieh served up two of her game-high six aces in an ensuing 10-4 run as the North Carolina Central University volleyball team rallied past Delaware State University, 3-2, in Mid-Eastern Athletics Conference (MEAC) play Friday evening inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
The Lady Eagles finished with 17 aces in the 25-15, 24-26, 21-25, 25-20, 15-12 comeback win. NC Central improved 4-18 on the season and 3-4 in the league. The Hornets fell to 8-14 and 3-4.
NC Central has won three of its last four home matches will next host the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in another MEAC clash on Sunday at 1 p.m.
NC CENTRAL HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Pieh (6 aces), sophomore
Isis Mitchell (5) and junior
Yomaries Villegas (4) all served up season-high ace totals. The trio all had double-digit digs as well with Villegas (23 digs) pacing the way and Mitchell (15) and Pieh following her on the defensive end.
Sophomore setter
Celene Morris tallied her 10th double-double with 42 assists and 14 digs.
Sophomore
Arlanda Faulkner paced NCCU's attack with 13 kills, matching her season-best total. Fellow sophomore
Estfania Louis followed with 10 kills while classmates
Ammaarah Williams and
Jasmine Sanders each posted eight kills.
Junior
McKayla Young chipped in five block assists.
DELAWARE STATE HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Junior Mayah Ngundam topped the Hornets with 13 kills. Freshman setter Freja Gortz finished with 43 assists, seven digs, two aces, two kills and two block assists.
1ST SET: NCCU hit .300 in the first set in coasting to the 10-point win. Louis had four of her 10 kills in the frame.
2ND SET: The Lady Eagles were two points shy of winning the second set at 23-20 before the Hornets won the next four points to start a closing 6-1 run to level the match.
3RD SET: Delaware State broke a 13-13 tie midway through the set with a decisive 8-1 run before holding on to win by four.
4TH SET: NCCU was able to answer with a five-point win, launching six of its 17 aces in the set. Trailing 11-9, Pieh had two straight service aces during a 5-0 run that catapulted the Lady Eagles ahead for good. DSU got within one late, but a couple late kills by Alcox helped finished off the equalizing set for the hosts.
5TH SET: The Hornets jumped out 8-5 as the two teams switched sides of the court, before NCCU made its critical run. The Lady Eagles got to match point, 14-10, with a 9-2 comeback that featured two kills by both Alcox and Louis and a pair of aces from Pieh. DSU netted the next two points to keep things interesting before Williams ended the match with a kill.
