ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The sophomore duo of
Kamren Harper and
Emmie Modlin each tallied career-high kill totals to lead the North Carolina Central University volleyball team in a narrow 3-2 loss to Alabama A&M University on Friday afternoon in the Woof Woof Invitational hosted by UNC Asheville.
Harper led all players with 25 kills with a sizzling .327 hitting percentage. The MEAC All-Rookie Team honoree completed a double-double with 12 digs while adding four aces and one solo block for 30 points. Modlin netted 16 kills, two aces and six blocks (one solo) for 21.5 points.
Graduate student
Jeslyn Spencer chipped in 12 kills, 10 digs and three aces for a double-double in her NCCU debut.
The tight match featured 44 ties and 21 lead changes and the last four sets all being decided by just two points with AAMU holding off NCCU in the first, third and fifth sets.
Sophomore outside hitter Bailey Duckett, a Second Team All-SWAC performer as a freshman last season, led the victors with 14 kills, including a pair of kills in the late stages of a close decisive fifth set. Duckett hit .306 for the match and just missed a double-double with nine digs.
The Bulldogs squeaked out the victory by a final score of 25-20, 23-25, 28-26, 24-26, 15-13. Alabama A&M (1-1) hit .259 for the match and made more blocks than the Eagles in help secure the slimmest of triumphs.
NCCU finished with a .168 hitting percentage with freshman
Amarah Johnson and graduate student
Isa Dostal making solid contributions in their maroon and gray debuts with seven and five kills, respectively. Johnson matched Modlin with one solo block and five block assists.
At the setter position junior
Bella Dearinger contributed 33 assists and classmate
Azra Osmanovic supplied 20 assists.
Junior libero
Loren Johnson topped NCCU with 16 digs.
NC Central (0-1) will next play host UNC Asheville at noon on Saturday to conclude its play in the Woof Woof Invitational.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
