DURHAM, N.C. — The North Carolina Central University volleyball team returns home from a three-match road swing and will try and stay above .500 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference when the Eagles host Howard University on Friday at 6 p.m. and Norfolk State University on Sunday at 1 p.m.
MATCH INFO:
DATE: Fri., Nov. 5 at Howard (6 PM)
LOCATION: Burr Gymnasium, Washington, D.C.
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LIVE STATS;
VIDEO;
@NCCUAthletics
DATE: Sun., Nov. 7 at Norfolk St. (1 PM)
LOCATION: Gill Gymnasium, Norfolk, Va.
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LIVE STATS;
VIDEO;
@NCCUAthletics
NOTE: Fans are encouraged to check
NCCUEaglePride.com for schedule updates
NC CENTRAL COURT:
The Eagles have won four of their last five matches and are coming off a 2-0 homestand in which they defeated Delaware State University, 3-2, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore, 3-1. NCCU (8-12 Overall, 7-4 MEAC) is tied for third place out of eight teams in the league standings with Coppin State University.
Sophomore
Lauren Janok has been named the MEAC Setter of the Week each of the last three weeks for a total of five times this season. Janok leads the conference with 8.82 assists per set. She also ranks in the top-10 of the league in two other categories, including seventh with 0.37 aces per set and ninth with 2.89 digs per set. Janok has 11 double-doubles on the season.
Senior outside hitter
Arlanda Faulkner collected her second MEAC Player of the Week honors last week. Faulkner, who ranks third in the MEAC with 3.15 kills per set, has recorded 15-plus kills in her last six matches.
Senior middle blocker/outside hitter
Ammaarah Williams is contributing a team-best 3.84 points per set. Williams ranks fourth in the MEAC with 1.00 blocks per set while also ranking fifth in the league in both kills per set (3.10) and hitting percentage (.303).
Senior
Celene Morris tops NCCU and ranks eighth in the MEAC with 2.93 digs per set.
NCCU is 0-7 against Howard in its DI era, last falling to the Bison in straight sets at home three weekends ago. The Eagles are 9-3 against Norfolk State in the modern era, including a 3-1 victory in their last meeting that same weekend in October.
HOWARD COURT:
The Bison are the hottest team in the MEAC, having won their last six matches. Howard (12-11 Overall, 9-2 MEAC) is tied for first place in the league standings with Delaware State and has won the MEAC Volleyball Championship the past five traditional fall seasons. The Bison will host the 2021 MEAC Volleyball Championship in two weeks.
A handful of Bison are averaging over two kills per set in freshman Bria Woodard (2.70), junior
Alex Smith (2.38), sophomore Jennifer Bolden (2.34), freshman Cimone Woodard (2.09) and junior Tamar Wells (2.05). Wells, the 2019 MEAC Rookie of the Year, is fifth in the MEAC with 0.92 blocks per set while Cimone Woodard, the twin sister of Bria, is seventh in the MEAC with 0.84 blocks per set.
From the specialist positions, junior setter Kayla Diaz (6.16 assists per set/6th & 0.43 aces per set/5th) and classmate libero Essence Bell (4.16 digs per set/3rd MEAC) lead the Bison in their respective positions. Senior Busi Banda is a service specialist and she ranks second in the conference with 0.53 aces per set.
NORFOLK STATE COURT:
The Spartans have lost their last four matches beginning with their four-set loss in Durham to the Eagles. Norfolk State (7-15 Overall, 3-8 MEAC) is in tied for sixth place in the league standings with Morgan State University. NSU will host S.C. State on Friday before hosting NCCU on Sunday.
Junior Shonte Seale, a juco all-region transfer from Dakota College, has taken over the reigns as NSU's top hitter with an average of 2.91 kills per set. Sophomore Paola Matos (2.28 KPS), a MEAC All-Rookie Team honoree last year, and senior Rachel Williams (2.26 KPS), who led the Spartans on the attack last season, also average over two kills per set. Junior Gracie Teeter, a transfer who won a NJCAA DI National Championship at Iowa Western Community College, is chipping in 1.17 kills per set and a team-best 0.79 blocks per set.
Freshman setter Caris Cross has made an immediate impact for Norfolk State, ranking third in the MEAC with 8.22 assists per set. Senior Nicole Rodriguez is serving as NSU's libero for a second straight season and is second in the league with an average of 4.87 digs per set.
