DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University volleyball team hit a season-best .326 in its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) match of the season with sophomore setter Celene Morris guiding the hot-hitting attack with 36 assists as the Lady Eagles swept South Carolina State University, 3-0, on Sunday afternoon inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
 
NCCU (2-12 Overall, 1-0 MEAC) has won two straight matches after the 25-18, 25-15, 25-18 conquest of the Lady Bulldogs (0-14, 0-2).
 
The Lady Eagles will next go on the road to battle archrival North Carolina A&T State University on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
 
NC CENTRAL HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Morris tallied an assist on 36 of NCCU's 44 kills. The Lady Eagles only committed 13 errors on their 95 chances to finish with a hitting percentage over .300 for the first time this season at .326.
 
Sophomore Jasmine Sanders paced the attack with 14 kills. Sanders has posted double-digit kill performances in five straight matches and seven total times on the season.
 
Junior Christine Alcox followed with 11 kills. Sophomore Arlanda Faulkner chipped in six kills and Morris added five spikes.
 
Freshman defensive specialist Alyssa Pieh served up three more aces. Pieh has launched three or more aces in six different outings. Junior libero Yomaries Villegas topped NCCU's defenders with 12 digs.
 
SOUTH CAROLINA ST. HIGHLIGHTS & STATS:
 
Junior Alexus Holt flirted with a double-double with team-best totals of 10 kills and eight digs. Junior setter Jenai King tallied 20 assists and two aces.
 
SET-BY-SET:
 
1ST: NCCU was clinging to a narrow 13-12 advantage midway through the set before doubling up the visitors, 12-6, to finish off the seven-point win. The Lady Eagles recorded five of their eight aces in the set, including two straight late aces by Pieh.
 
2ND: The Lady Eagles hit .478 in the middle frame en route to their most lopsided win of 10 points. South Carolina State jumped out to an 8-3 lead before NCCU won six of the next seven points to level the score. The Lady Bulldogs would lead one last time at 12-11 before the Lady Eagles rattled off three straight points to start a 13-4 closing rally that featured four kills by Alcox.
 
3RD: NCCU led wire-to-wire to complete the sweep. S.C. State pulled within one, 7-6, early before the Lady Eagles pulled away with a 10-1 outburst that included five kills by Sanders. Her sixth spike of the set gave the Lady Eagles their first chance at match point, which was converted on a kill by Morris.