DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore outside hitter Emmie Modlin posted a career-high 22 kills and junior libero Loren Johnson led all players with 24 digs and six aces for the North Carolina Central University volleyball team in a 3-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference loss to Delaware State University on Sunday afternoon inside the LeRoy T. Walker Complex.
 
The Eagles constructed a 2-1 set advantage over the defending league champions, but the Hornets hit over .300 in the fourth and fifth sets to complete a 21-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-14, 15-8 comeback win.
 
Modlin, who has reached double-digit kills in five consecutive matches, posted a career-high kill total for a second straight contest on NCCU's Homecoming weekend. Modlin netted 21 kills in Friday's victory over UMES and then followed that up with a new career-best 22 kills against DSU on Sunday. The reigning MEAC Co-Player of the Week hit .327 for the match and completed her fifth double-double of the season with 12 digs.
 
Johnson, who has earned two Defensive Player of the Week awards this season, continued her strong play wearing the libero jersey for the maroon and gray with her 24 digs and six aces, which tied a season-high total when she also served up six aces against Coppin State University on Oct. 1.
 
The Eagles jumped out to a 14-9 lead in the first set and graduate student Jeslyn Spencer ripped five of her nine kills in that frame in leading NCCU to a four-point set triumph. The hosts then jumped out to an 8-5 edge in the second set, but the Hornets went on an ensuing 8-2 run to catapult ahead and eventually tie the match. The Eagles hit .310 in the third set, including five kills on six attempts by Modlin, to regain the set advantage, but the Hornets responded by hitting .375 in the fourth and .318 in the fifth to secure their third consecutive victory.
 
Delaware State (15-12 Overall, 8-5 MEAC) was led by freshman Ella Sanders, who had 15 kills, two aces, one solo block and one block assist for 18.5 points. The Hornets hit .253 for the match compared to .165 by the Eagles.
 
Sophomore Kamren Harper chipped in 10 kills for NCCU while junior setter Bella Dearinger finished with 36 assists and 13 digs for her seventh double-double.
 
NC Central (5-17, 4-9) will conclude regular season play by hosting MEAC rival South Carolina State University on Friday at 6 p.m. The Eagles will celebrate Senior Night during that last home match of the 2023 season.
 
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