DURHAM, N.C. – Freshman outside hitter
Kamren Harper tallied her first collegiate double-double and sophomore libero
Loren Johnson netted season-high totals of four aces and 22 digs to pace the North Carolina Central University volleyball team in 3-1 non-conference home loss to North Carolina A&T State University on Tuesday evening inside McDougald-McLendon Arena.
The Eagles picked up their first set win of the season in the third set, but the Aggies hit .500 in the fourth set to close out the road victory. North Carolina A&T (3-1) has won three consecutive matches after topping NCCU by a final score of 25-19, 25-22, 17-25, 25-10.
Harper finished with season-high totals of 12 kills and 10 digs to complete her double-double. Freshman classmate
Tori Wilson added a season-best 10 kills and chipped in on four blocks for a second straight outing.
Johnson has reached double-figure digs in three consecutive matches, and her 22 digs was 10 more than her previous high this young campaign. Johnson's four aces is the most by any NCCU player this year.
Sophomore setter
Vanila Pulu-Suliafu supplied the maroon and gray with 27 assists, which is also a new season-high mark.
With the score tied 10-10 in the first set, N.C. A&T rattled off seven straight points to pull away. The score was once again tied 10-10 in the second set when the Aggies won five of the next seven points to take the lead for good. A kill by Wilson pulled the Eagles within one point late at 22-21, but N.C. A&T used a couple kills to hold on for the three-point set win.
NCCU got five kills by both Wilson and Harper in the third set and hit .333 for the frame to coast to the set victory. However, the Aggies responded by converting on over half of their attack attempts in the fourth set to seal the team win.
Sophomore Naiya Sawtelle, the reigning Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week, finished with 19 kills, 13 digs and four aces to pace the victors. Classmate Hannah Howell followed closely with 17 kills.
NC Central (0-4) will next play two matches at the Aggie-Phoenix Volley for Unity on Sept. 9-10, beginning with a rematch against N.C. A&T on Friday at 6 p.m.
