GREENSBORO, N.C. — Junior Christine Alcox blasted a team-high 12 kills and sophomore Arlanda Faulkner posted her second collegiate double-double to pace the visiting North Carolina Central University volleyball team in a 3-1 road loss to co-host UNCG in the Spartan-Demon Deacon Classic Friday evening inside Fleming Gymnasium.
 
UNCG (1-0) posted 54 total kills and hit .218 for the match in prevailing 25-17, 25-17, 23-25, 25-15 in the opener for both programs.
 
NCCU (0-1) will continue play in the Spartan-Demon Deacon Classic with two more matches Saturday. The Lady Eagles will first play co-host Wake Forest University at 11 a.m. before concluding competition against Presbyterian College at 5:30 p.m. Both NCCU matches Saturday will be contested at Reynolds Gym in Winston-Salem.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Alcox led NCCU's attack with 12 kills, which was just two spikes shy of her career best total. Faulkner notched her second career double-double and first of the season with 10 kills and 11 digs. Faulkner also had three blocks and one ace for a team-high 13 points.
 
Junior McKayla Young and sophomore Estfania Louis were efficient on their limited attempts. Young launched five kills on seven swings for a .429 hitting percentage while Louis tallied four kills on eight tries for a .250 clip.
 
Junior transfer Yomaries Villegas made her maroon and gray debut with a match-high 17 digs from the libero position. Sophomores Isis Mitchell and Celene Morris split the setting duties with 20 and 12 assists, respectively.
 
UNCG HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Junior Maria Esch topped the victors with a match-high 14 kills and a .414 hitting percentage. Junior Holly Behrends followed with a dozen kills and 13 digs for her own double-double. Freshman setter made a strong collegiate debut with 46 assists, eight digs, five blocks and four kills.
 
SET-BY-SET:
 
1ST: A kill by sophomore Ammaarah Williams on the first play of the season provided NCCU with the initial advantage. Another kill by Young pushed NCCU's early edge to 4-2 and the Lady Eagles continued to lead 5-4 before Esch took over the set for the Spartans. Esch ripped eight kills in the opening set without an error on 15 attempts. Her .471 hitting percentage in the frame helped UNCG rally for the eight-point win.
 
2ND: UNCG led from the onset to take the 2-0 set advantage. The hosts were up five early before a 4-0 NCCU run capped by an ace from freshman Alyssa Pieh pulled the visitors to within one at 12-11. However, the Spartans went on an ensuing 6-1 run before settling for another 25-17 win.
 
3RD: The Lady Eagles attack came alive in the third set to extend the match. NCCU heated up to .273 rate in the set, scoring 14 of their 25 points on kills. Faulkner paced the Lady Eagles with five kills in the stanza, including her fifth one on set point.  
 
4TH: The Spartans bounced back by rushing out to a 9-2 lead to regain control of the match before coasting to their most lopsided set win of the match.