DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore setter Lauren Janok made contributions offensively and defensively on the floor to help the North Carolina Central University volleyball team start 2-0 in MEAC competition after taking down Coppin State University, 3-2, on Sunday. Janok tied her career-high in assists with 48 and also added a team-high 23 digs defensively, which is a new career-best.
 
The match saw the teams trading sets the entire way. NCCU took the first set 27-25 before Coppin State responded by taking the second set 25-13. In the third set, NCCU held on for a narrow win by the score of 26-24. Coppin refused to go away quietly as the visitors rallied to secure the fourth set 25-23 to force a winner-takes-all fifth set. NCCU saved its best for last, by hitting .321 in the fifth set to finish off the MEAC preseason favorites, 15-12.
 
Offensively, the Eagles were led by seniors Ammaarah Williams and Arlanda Faulkner who finished the afternoon with 19 and 18 kills, respectively. Faulkner ended the contest with a match-high .429 hitting percentage and 23 total points. Senior McKayla Young added eight kills and six blocks to finish the contest with 11.5 points. Janok added seven kills and three aces to go along with her 48 assists and 23 digs.
 
The NCCU defense was sparked by sophomore libero Alyssa Pieh and senior Celene Morris, who finished the match with 15 digs a piece. Faulkner also added 12 digs to her stat line.
 
For Coppin State, junior Paola Caten and senior Miajavon Coleman led the attack behind 28 and 24 kills, respectively. They were setup by nicely all day by junior setter Andrea Tsvetanova, who ended the match with 60 assists. Coleman and 2020 MEAC defensive player of the year Ashley Roman both finished the game with 23 digs.
 
NCCU (3-8, 2-0 MEAC) returns to the court on the road at South Carolina State University on, Friday, Oct. 1. On that same day Coppin State (7-7, 1-1 MEAC) will face Morgan State University.