DURHAM, N.C. – For the second time this season, the North Carolina Central University volleyball team erased a two-set deficit to defeat Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Norfolk State University in five sets as the Eagles conclude the NCCU Homecoming weekend with a 3-2 home win on Sunday afternoon inside the LeRoy T. Walker Complex.
 
Freshman Tori Wilson led the triumphant Eagles with 22 points, which is the most points by any NCCU player this season. Wilson and classmate Kamren Harper both contributed 16 kills while sophomore Abby Vacha blasted a season-high 12 kills.
 
NC Central (6-18 Overall, 4-8 MEAC) has now rallied from a 2-nil set deficit for to win 3-2 in three different matches this season (the first time was against Campbell). The Eagles finished off the dramatic win by a final score of 22-25, 21-25, 25-18, 25-20, 15-12.
 
Sophomore Vanila Pulu-Suliafu supplied a season-high 48 assists and made a solo block on match point.
 
Wilson's 22-point performance featured 16 kills, a team-high three aces and four blocks (two solo). Harper completed her fourth double-double of the season with 16 kills and 18 digs and Vacha netted her first double-double with 12 kills and 10 digs. Freshman Emmie Modlin was a fourth Eagle with double-digit points as she chipped in eight kills, two aces and one block assist. Sophomore Kennedy Clark had one of her strongest performances with four kills on just six attempts (.667 hitting percentage) with four blocks (two solo) for seven points.
 
Norfolk State (7-15, 7-5) constructed its two-set cushion by hitting just over .240 in each of the first two sets. However, it was NCCU that hit over .200 in each of the final three sets to make the comeback.
 
NCCU launched four of its 10 aces in the third set, including one by Modlin to wrap up the seven-point win. The Eagles won the first six points of the fourth sets and controlled that stanza from the start to level the match.
 
The Spartans had an 11-9 lead in the race to 15 points in the decisive fifth set, but NCCU closed the match on a 6-1 run. That closing surge featured a couple of kills by Wilson before the Eagles used back-to-back blocks on the final two plays. Pulu-Suliafu teamed up with Wilson on the penultimate block and then she made her solo block one play later.
 
Sophomore libero Loren Johnson led the victors with 23 digs, matching NSU fifth-year counterpart Nicole Rodriguez.
 
Senior Shonte Seale highlighted play for the visitors with a match-high 17 kills. Freshman Sydney McCree had 41 assists and 11 digs in her return to her hometown.
 
NC Central will conclude its regular season by hosting MEAC rival South Carolina State University on its Senior Night. The Eagles will recognize three seniors just before first serve against the Bulldogs that is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.
 
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