DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University volleyball team will entertain a pair of key Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matches inside the LeRoy T. Walker Complex over the weekend, first hosting league-leading Delaware State University (Friday, 6 p.m.) before playing a pivotal match against University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Sunday, 1 p.m.), who the Eagles are tied in the league standings with heading into the weekend.
 
MATCH INFO:

DATE: Fri., Oct. 29 at Delaware St. (6 PM)
LOCATION: LeRoy T. Walker Complex, Durham, N.C.
LISTEN: NCCU Sports Network (Audio Only)
FOLLOW: LIVE STATS; @NCCUAthletics
 
DATE: Sun., Oct. 31 at Maryland Eastern Shore (1 PM)
LOCATION: LeRoy T. Walker Complex, Durham, N.C.
LISTEN: NCCU Sports Network (Audio Only)
FOLLOW: LIVE STATS; @NCCUAthletics
 
NOTE: Fans are encouraged to check NCCUEaglePride.com for schedule updates
 

 
NC CENTRAL COURT:
 
The Eagles posted a 1-1 road trip to Baltimore, Maryland, last weekend, rallying past Morgan State (3-2) and falling to Coppin State (3-1). NCCU (6-12 Overall, 5-4 MEAC) is tied for fourth place in the conference standings with Eastern Shore.
 
Sophomore setter Lauren Janok secured her fourth MEAC Setter of the Week honors on Monday after posting a season-high 50 assists in Friday's triumph at MSU. Janok leads the league with 8.84 assists per set. She has 10 double-doubles on the season and ranks in the top-10 of the MEAC in aces per set (0.35/9th) and digs per set (2.98/10th).
 
Senior outside hitter/middle blocker Ammaarah Williams also continued her strong play, garnering MEAC Player of the Week attention for a second time this season after ripping a season-high 22 kills against the Bears. Williams also ranks in the top-10 of the MEAC in three statistical categories with 0.97 blocks per set (3rd), 3.11 kills per set (4th) and a .317 hitting percentage (6th).
 
Senior Arlanda Faulkner has reached double-digit kills in four straight matches to average over three kills per set. Junior Abby Vacha (1.70 kills per set) and senior McKayla Young (1.27 kills per set, 0.89 blocks per set) provide scoring depth for the maroon and gray.
 
Redshirt sophomore libero Alyssa Pieh, who is averaging 3.96 digs per set, was injured two weekends ago and has not played since with redshirt freshman Maria Almeida and sophomore Jada Buckhanon both seeing time in the libero jersey. Senior Celene Morris leads NCCU's active players with 3.11 digs per set.
 
NCCU is 3-4 against DSU in the DI era and 1-11 against Eastern Shore. The Eagles suffered a pair of 3-0 road losses to those programs earlier in the month.
 
DELAWARE STATE COURT:
 
The Hornets had a 16-match win streak come to an end on Tuesday, falling 3-0 at Howard University. Delaware State (20-2 Overall, 8-1 MEAC) continues to lead the league, but has only played six true road matches this season and hold a 4-2 record in those contests.
 
Junior setter Malgorzata Andersohn, a transfer who played one season each at Stephen F. Austin University and Arkansas State University, is supplying 6.37 assists per set for a DSU attack that is hitting a league-best .266 this season. Andersohn also ranks fourth nationally with 0.68 aces per set.
 
Sophomore Alondra Maldonado is second in the MEAC with 3.27 kills per set. Classmate Valeria Otero (2.79) and senior Kristi Gomez (2.51) each add over two kills per set. Sophomore Adriana Rodriguez, who is averaging 1.86 kills per set leads the MEAC and ranks 15th nationally with a .421 hitting percentage. Junior Sydney Lewis is DSU's top blocker with a league-best 109 blocks per set. Junior libero Jasmal Cruz is contributing 3.98 digs per set.
 
MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE COURT:
 

The Hawks have split each of their last two weekends like NCCU to remain in a tie with the Eagles. Maryland Eastern shore (10-10 Overall, 5-4 MEAC) will play at South Carolina State University on Friday before coming to Durham on Sunday.
 
For a third straight season, senior middle blocker Mauri Carver ranks amongst the MEAC's best front-row defenders. Carver currently ranks second in the league with 1.09 blocks per set. She also is fourth in the MEAC with a .324 hitting percentage. Eastern Shore has a balanced attack that uses a two-setter system. The top-five Hawk hitters all average near two kills per set, with sophomore Maya Hendricks (2.24) and Derionah Abner (2.00) topping the group.