DURHAM, N.C. – A trio of Eagles had seven kills for host North Carolina Central University in a 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference loss to Howard University on Friday evening inside the LeRoy T. Walker Complex.
 
The Bison had a hot-hitting attack with a .345 hitting percentage while also serving up 10 aces to complete the season series sweep with the 25-17, 25-16, 25-13 victory. Howard (16-9 Overall, 9-2 MEAC) is the defending MEAC champs and is still in contention for the regular season title with the triumph.
 
Junior Abby Vacha and freshmen Kamren Harper and Tori Wilson accounted 21 of NCCU's 27 kills, producing seven kills apiece. Harper also had two blocks (one solo) for a team-best 8.5 points while chipping in eight digs.
 
Sophomore setter Vanila Pulu-Suliafu flirted with a double-double, tallying 22 assists and eight digs. Classmate Loren Johnson paced the Eagles with nine digs from the libero position.
 
Fifth-year senior Daryn Armstrong and freshman Emmie Modlin both had two kills in the opening frame, helping NCCU keep the first set the closest of the match. A kill by Armstrong had the Eagles leading 8-6, but the Bison rushed ahead by winning the next seven points. Senior Tamar Wells rattled off five of her seven kills in Howard's eight-point, first-set win.
 
The Bison led from the start of the second set, constructing a quick 10-3 advantage before winning by nine. Sophomore Cimone Woodard netted six of her seven kills in the middle stanza.
 
Harper tied the third set, 7-7, with a kill before Howard closed the set on an 18-6 run to complete the sweep. Senior Kayla Diaz, who had 33 assists, served up three of her match-high five aces in the final frame.
 
Freshman Rya McKinnon led the victors with 12 kills and completed a double-double with 12 digs.
 
NC Central (5-18, 4-8) will next host Norfolk State University on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
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