DURHAM, N.C. — Senior libero Yomaries Villegas picked up a season-high 11 digs and junior outside hitter Arlanda Faulkner blasted nine kills for a second straight day, but the North Carolina Central University volleyball team was unable to stop a hot-hitting North Carolina A&T State University attack in a 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) home loss Saturday afternoon.
 
The Aggies accrued a season-high 47 kills en route to the 25-18, 25-21, 25-16 triumph. N.C. A&T (4-1 Overall, 4-0 MEAC) remained undefeated in league play, prevailing with a .337 hitting percentage.
 
A 6-0 run to break free of a 12-12 tie helped the Aggies win the first set and junior Fatimah Shabazz ripped eight of her match-high 15 kills in the opening frame.
 
Sophomore Alyssa Pieh served up an ace to pull NCCU one, 18-17, late in the middle set, but N.C. A&T won the next four points to stay in front and win the closest game. Senior Courteney Pitt, who had 11 kills for the Aggies, had two kills during that instrumental 4-0 run.
 
The victors scored six unanswered points after the Eagles tied the third set at 10-10 on senior Edie Brewer's service rotation to once again pull ahead and complete the straight-set victory.
 
Brewer finished with six kills, 26 assists, six digs and one ace.
 
Freshman Maria Almeida followed Faulkner with a season-high six kills in her first collegiate start. She also had seven digs. Classmate Lauren Janok continued her strong rookie play at the setter position with 22 assists, four kills and a match-high four aces.
 
NC Central (2-2, 2-2) will continue its homestand by hosting Norfolk State University in a pair of MEAC matinees on Thursday-Friday, Feb. 25-26.