DURHAM, N.C. – Outside hitter
Abby Vacha blasted a career-high 13 kills on her Senior Night and the North Carolina Central University volleyball team coasted to a 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference home win over South Carolina State University on Friday evening inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
The Eagles completed the season-series sweep of the Bulldogs by set scores of 25-12, 25-17 and 25-16.
NC Central finished its regular season with a 7-18 overall record and a 6-8 league ledger. The maroon and gray moved into a tie for fifth place in the league standings with the triumph, but due to the head-to-head tiebreaker rule NCCU will enter next week's 2022 MEAC Volleyball Championship at Delaware State University as the sixth seed. The Eagles will play the hosts and third-seeded Hornets in the quarterfinals on Friday, Nov. 18.
Vacha ripped her 13 kills on 25 attempts with just two errors for a sizzling .440 hitting percentage. Vacha has now increased her career-high, single-match kill total in each of NCCU's last two matches – both wins – as she ripped a dozen kills against Norfolk State University last Sunday.
Before the regular season finale, NCCU had its Senior Night presentation that recognized Vacha,
Autumn DeSantis,
Daryn Armstrong,
Lauren Janok and
Alyssa Pieh.
Armstrong netted six kills on just seven attempts and one error for a .714 hitting percentage. Amstrong also participated in three blocks (one solo) for eight points. DeSantis chipped in three kills and one block assist. Janok and Pieh did not play due to injury.
The Eagles had a team hitting percentage of .313 with sophomores
Vanila Pulu-Suliafu and
Azra Osmanovic taking turns at the setter position. Pulu-Suliafu finished with a match-high 20 assist while Osmanovic tallied 15 assists.
NCCU's freshmen duo of
Kamren Harper and
Tori Wilson continued their strong play with seven kills apiece. Harper also contributed team-best totals of 12 digs and four aces. Wilson had three block assists.
South Carolina State (0-25, 0-14) finished its regular season winless and will be the eighth-seed in the MEAC Volleyball Championship.
After NCCU rolled to an easy win in the first set, freshman Delaney Davis took over at setter for the Bulldogs and she helped SCSU keep the final two sets more competitive as she finished with eight assists to highlight play for the visitors. However, NCCU closed the second set on a 9-3 run and the final frame with a 15-6 rally.
The league office will announce the official pairings with match times for the 2022 MEAC Volleyball Championship soon.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
