BALTIMORE, Md. — Junior libero Yomaries Villegas posted team-best totals of 17 digs and two aces for the visiting North Carolina Central University volleyball team in a 3-1 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) road loss at Morgan State University Friday night.
 
The Bears fought off the Lady Eagles by a final score of 25-18, 28-30, 25-16, 25-21. MSU leveled its overall record to 8-8 while moving over .500 in league play at 2-1.
 
NC Central (2-14, 1-2) will continue its five-game MEAC road swing with another showdown in the Charm City at Coppin State University on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
NC CENTRAL HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Villegas was the only maroon and gray player to reach double-digit digs by scooping up 17 digs. She also recorded two of NCCU's three aces.
 
Junior Christine Alcox topped the attack with 13 kills. Alcox has reached double figures in four straight matches. Sophomore Arlanda Faulkner followed with nine kills and she flirted with a double-double by adding eight digs. Junior McKayla Young and sophomore Ammaarah Williams each tallied six digs. Young also led all players with five block assists while Williams contributed on four blocks (two solo, two assists).
 
Sophomore setter Celene Morris contributed 33 assists.
 
MORGAN STATE HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
The Bears hit .234 with the duo of sophomore Zoe McBride and junior Tylar Roberson accounting for 50 of MSU's 58 kills. McBride had a match-high 27 kills and finished off a double-double with 15 digs. Roberson hit .300 on her way to 23 kills. Senior setter Roi Wallace had a big performance with 47 assists and five aces.
 
SET-BY-SET:
 
1ST: A kill by Young had NCCU within one point, 17-16, before the Bears finished off the set on an 8-2 run. McBride had eight kills without an error to help Morgan State take the early edge.
 
2ND: The Lady Eagles leveled the score by winning an extended set that fans witnessed 14 ties and six lead changes. NCCU had all six chances at match point before a tandem block by Young and Sanders finished off the 30-28 win in favor of the visitors.
 
3RD: NC Central won the first point of the set, but Morgan State earned the next seven points to jump ahead. The Bears never relinquished the lead from that point before winning by nine.
 
4TH: The Bears hit .370 to finish off the match. NCCU only trailed by one, 13-12, midway through the set. However, Morgan State pulled away by winning the next six points. The Lady Eagles were able to close the gap to within a pair of points on a couple occasions with four late kills by Alcox, but McBride had an ensuing kill each time to keep the hosts in front before winning by four points.