WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Sophomore Jasmine Sanders had a breakout performance in just her second match at North Carolina Central University with 12 kills to highlight play for the Lady Eagles in a 3-0 loss to co-host Wake Forest University in Saturday's early action at the Spartan-Demon Deacon Classic.
 
Wake Forest (2-0) hit .398 as a team in pulling away to the 25-18, 25-9, 25-12 win to remain undefeated on the season.
 
NCCU (0-2) will wrap up play in the Spartan-Demon Deacon Classic with a neutral-site match against Presbyterian College in WF's Reynolds Gym at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Sanders, who transferred to NCCU from Florida Southern College, ripped her 12 kills on 22 tries with just two errors for a stellar .455 hitting percentage. Her dozen kills are a collegiate best match total.
 
Another transfer in junior Yomaries Villegas once again led the Lady Eagles in digs. She recorded 10 digs, which is her second straight double-digit performance at NCCU since concluding play at the College of Central Florida.
 
Sophomore Arlanda Faulkner tallied five kills and made six digs. Fellow classmates Celene Morris and Isis Mitchell tallied 11 and 10 assists, respectively.
 
WAKE FOREST HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Senior Caitlyn Della launched a staggering 15 kills on just 16 swings for an amazing .938 hitting percentage. She also had six block assists for an 18-point performance. Freshman Peyton Suess followed with 11 kills.
 
SET-BY-SET:
 
1ST: Three early kills by Faulkner staked NCCU to an early 6-4 lead in the opener. However, Wake Forest went on an ensuing 6-1 run to take the lead for good. Sanders led the Lady Eagles with five kills in the set, and her second straight kill pulled NCCU within two at 16-14. The Demon Deacons followed with another 5-1 surge that featured a pair of kills by junior Caroline Kuhn to help the hosts pull away to the seven-point win.
 
2ND: Wake Forest scored the first nine points in controlling the middle frame. The Demon Deacons blasted 15 kills without an error on 28 attempts for a .536 hitting percentage.
 
3RD: Della ripped six of her kills and made three of her blocks in the last set as Wake Forest completed the sweep. The Demon Deacons opened up a quick 13-4 lead in another strong set.