DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University volleyball team recorded its most service aces in a match since 2012 before falling, 3-1, in a competitive non-conference home match against University of North Dakota inside McDougald-McLendon Arena Thursday afternoon.
The Fighting Hawks (5-4) had to rally from a first-set deficit before moving over .500 on the season with the 24-26, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22 victory.
NCCU (0-8) will next play three matches in the Davidson College Invitational, beginning with a neutral-site tilt against UNCW on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
NCCU HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Junior libero Yomaries Villegas launched four of NCCU's 12 aces, which is the most since the Lady Eagles served up a dozen aces in a pair of matches in the 2012 season. Other top servers for the maroon and gray included freshman Alyssa Pieh with three and sophomores Ammaarah Williams and Celene Morris with two apiece.
Morris completed a double-double with 40 assists and 12 digs while Villegas had a match-high 14 digs.
Sophomore Arlanda Faulkner completed her third double-double of the season and fourth of her career with 12 kills and 13 digs. A trio of Lady Eagles notched eight kills, including Williams, junior Christine Alcox and junior McKayla Young.
Senior Jessica Pilivi was a fourth NCCU defender with double-digit digs with 10 saves.
NORTH DAKOTA HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
Senior Ashley Brueggeman and sophomore Lexi Aherns led all players with 14 kills apiece. Junior Lydia Rutten added nine kills and a match-high seven block assists.
SET-BY-SET:
1ST: An aces by Williams ended the extended opener in favor of the Lady Eagles. Young had four of her eight kills in a tight set that fans witnessed 14 ties and five lead changes.
2ND: North Dakota had its best hitting set of .343 to hold off NCCU by two and level the match. Rutten has seven kills in the set and the Fighting Hawks scored the final two points of the set to break the fourth and final tie at 23-all.
3RD: NCCU launched five aces in the critical third, but could not overcome six blocks by North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks constructed a 16-11 advantage. The Lady Eagles rallied to within two late, 23-21, before the final two blocks of the frame put the long-distance visitors ahead in the match.
4TH: The two teams were in another battle with the score tied 17-17. UND broke away by winning five of the next serves before squeaking out the three-point triumph. Faulkner kept NCCU within striking distance with five kills.
