DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team will begin the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) portion of its schedule with two league tilts in the charm city when the Eagles play at Morgan State University on Friday at 3 p.m. and at Coppin State University on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
MATCH INFO

Friday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m.
NC Central at Morgan State
LIVE STATS
 
Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m.
NC Central at Coppin State
LIVE STATS

NC CENTRAL VOLLEYBALL
 
The Eagles dropped their last three matches at the Campbell Invitational last weekend just a few days after securing their first win of the season on Tuesday. NCCU (1-9 Overall, 0-0 MEAC) finished in a tie for third place in the league standings last season and was picked to finish fourth out of eight teams in the MEAC Preseason Volleyball Predicted of Order Finish poll released in the preseason.
 
Freshman Kamren Harper is leading the Eagles with 2.55 kills per set, which ranks fifth in the MEAC. Classmate Tori Wilson, who was just named to the Campbell Invite All-Tournament Team, provides NCCU with a second offensive threat that is averaging over two kills per set (2.15). Wilson also leads the Eagles and ranks sixth in the MEAC with 0.82 blocks per set. Harper and Wilson are both averaging 2.8 points per set.
 
Freshman Emmie Modlin (1.52) and graduate student Autumn DeSantis (1.13) are the only other NCCU players averaging over one kill per set.
 
Sophomore Vanila Pulu-Suliafu has been NCCU's primary setter this season and is contributing 6.36 assists per set, which also ranks fourth in the MEAC. Pulu-Suliafu is also providing 2.24 digs and 0.27 aces per set.
 
Sophomore libero Loren Johnson ranks within the top-10 of the MEAC in a pair of statistical categories. Johnson is currently second in the conference with 4.15 digs per set and 10th in the league with 0.33 aces per set.
 
NCCU defeated Morgan State twice last season for the programs first two wins over MSU since joining the league. The Eagles are 2-3 all-time against the Bears after winning 3-1 in Durham and 3-2 in Baltimore last season.
 
NC Central split its season series with Coppin State Last season with the home team winning each time. In the battle of two Eagle programs, CSU holds a slight 6-5 all-time edge over NCCU after winning the last showdown, 3-1, in Baltimore.
 
MORGAN STATE VOLLEYBALL
 
The Bears picked up their first win of the season in a non-conference win over University of Maryland Eastern Shore to begin play in the George Mason Invitational, but then lost their next two matches to end the weekend. Morgan State (1-13 Overall, 0-0 MEAC) finished seventh in the league last season and were picked to finish in that same position in the preseason poll.
 
Junior Makila Billingsley has taken over the team lead with an average of 2.48 kills per set in her second season with the Bears. Classmate Jourdan Page and sophomore Madison Grace follow Billingsley with matching averages of 1.8 kills per set.
 
Junior libero Alyssa Sampson is seventh in the MEAC with 3.44 digs per set and eighth in the league with 0.36 aces per set. Other statistical leaders for the Bears include junior Justyus Jackson averaging 078 blocks per set and junior setter Mackenzie Jefferson netting 4.42 assists per set.
 
COPPIN STATE VOLLEYBALL
 
The CSU Eagles had a seven-match win streak come to an end with a 3-1 loss to UMBC on Tuesday. Coppin State (9-7 Overall, 0-0 MEAC) is 0-3 at home, but will host South Carolina State University on Friday before entertaining the NCCU Eagles on Sunday. Coppin State finished in a tie for third place in the MEAC standing last season with NCCU and was picked third this season in the preseason poll.
 
Coppin State dominated the MEAC Preseason All-MEAC Team with four of the seven selections.
 
Senior Miajavon Coleman headlines the group as the reigning MEAC Player of the Year and Preseason Player of the Year. Coleman is second in the MEAC with 2.94 kills per set and second on the team with 2.34 digs per set.
 
Graduate student Ammaarah Williams, who was a two-time All-MEAC selection for NCCU, ranks second on the team with 2.47 kills and 0.27 aces per set.
 
Defensively, senior liber Ashley Roman once again is anchoring the back row. Roman leads the MEAC and ranks 17th nationally with 5.06 digs per set. CSU's strong play at the specialty positions also includes senior setter Andrea Tsvetanova, who is second in the MEAC with 8.87 assists per set and third nationally with 0.81 aces per set.
 
Senior Paola Caten joined Coleman, Williams and Roman on the Preseason All-MEAC Team, but has not played this season.