WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Sophomore Estfania Louis blasted a career-high 10 kills to pace the North Carolina Central University volleyball team in a 3-1 loss to Presbyterian College in the last match of the Spartan-Demon Deacon Classic Saturday evening in Reynolds Gym on the campus of Wake Forest University.
 
The Blue Hose (1-2) pick up their first win of the season by outlasting the Lady Eagles by set scores of 25-14, 25-21, 25-27 and 25-18.
 
NCCU (0-3) will next play at The Citadel on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at 6 p.m.
 
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Louis ripped kills on half of her swings to post her first double-digit kill performance of her collegiate career. Louis finished with a .450 hitting percentage on her way to her 10 kills.
 
Junior Christine Alcox chipped in eight kills, two aces and three block assists for 11.5 points. The Lady Eagles had a balanced attack in the match with sophomore Arlanda Faulkner adding five kills while junior McKayla Young and sophomore Jasmine Sanders each registering four kills.
 
Sophomore setter Celene Morris logged 14 digs and sophomore Isis Mitchell flirted with a double-double with 11 assists and eight digs. Junior Yomaries Villegas led NCCU with 17 digs while Faulkner lifted up 10 digs. Young led all players with six block assists.
 
PRESBYTERIAN HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
A trio of Blue Hose reached double-digit kills. Sophomore Erin Cooke paced the group with 17 kills. She flirted with a triple-double with 29 assists and eight digs. Sophomore Lauren Talbert contributed 13 kills and 12 digs and freshman Gracie Davis accumulated 12 kills.
 
SET-BY-SET:
 
1ST: PC scored the first six points of the match and coasted to the 11-point win. The Blue Hose defense held NCCU to just four kills in the opener.
 
2ND: Two consecutive kills by sophomore Estfania Louis staked the Lady Eagles to an early 3-1 edge. The Blue Hose rallied and eventually raced ahead 18-12. However, a 5-0 run capped by a sophomore Ammaarah Williams pulled NCCU within one point at 22-21. Presbyterian responded after a timeout with two kills by sophomore Erin Cooke and an ace by classmate Lauren Talbert to survive the set by four points.
 
3RD: The tightest set of the match featured 15 ties and six lead changes. PC was closing in on the sweep with the largest lead of the set at 22-18. However, NCCU rallied with a 6-1 run to serve for set point. That comeback featured a kill and an ace by Alcox. The Lady Eagles needed three tries at set point before a double block by Young and senior Kennedy White ended the extended period 27-25.
 
4TH: Presbyterian scored the first three points and never trailed. NCCU only trailed 18-16 before the Blue Hose closed out competition on a 7-2 run.