DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team will make its home season debut against Gardner-Webb University on Friday, Sept. 1, before completing a two-day, home-and-away series against the Runnin' Bulldogs on Saturday, Sept. 2. A couple days later, NCCU will play a road match at Campbell University on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
UPCOMING MATCHES:
Friday, Sept. 1 at 6 p.m.
Gardner-Webb at NC Central
McDougald-McLendon Arena, Durham, N.C.
VIDEO (NCCU Sports Network);
LIVE STATS
Saturday, Sept. 2 at 4 p.m.
NC Central at Gardner-Webb
Paul Porter Arena, Boiling Springs, N.C.
VIDEO (ESPN+);
LIVE STATS
Tuesday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m.
NC Central at Campbell
Gore Arena, Buies Creek, N.C.
LIVE STATS
NC CENTRAL COURT
The Eagles (0-2) are coming off a pair of narrow 3-2 losses at the Woof Woof Invitational last weekend to Alabama A&M and host UNC Asheville.
Freshman
Amarah Johnson was named MEAC Rookie of the Week after finishing with a team-best .349 hitting percentage. Johnson and sophomore
Kamren Harper were both selected to the Woof Woof Invitational All-Tournament Team. Harper ranks 33rd nationally with 4.4 kills per set.
NC Central is 0-10 in its modern DI era against Gardner-Webb and will be playing the Runnin' Bulldogs for the first time since the 2018 season. The Eagles are 2-17 in that same time span against Campbell, splitting two matches against the Camels last season.
NCCU Statistical Leaders
KILLS: #13
Kamren Harper (4.40 KPS) and #36
Emmie Modlin (3.50 KPS)
ACES: #13
Kamren Harper (0.50 APS) and #10
Jeslyn Spencer (0.50 APS)
ASSISTS: #1
Bella Dearinger (6.90 APS) and #2
Azra Osmanovic (3.67 APS)
DIGS: #9
Loren Johnson (3.10 DPS) and #10
Jeslyn Spencer (2.10 DPS)
BLOCKS: #36
Emmie Modlin (0.70 BPS) and #5
Amarah Johnson (0.60 BPS)
GARDNER-WEBB COURT
The Runnin' Bulldogs (1-2) opened up play with three matches at the Liberty Invitational. Gardner-Webb got in the win column against Stony Brook before falling to the host Flames and Bucknell.
Sophomore Morgan Hornaday was named to the Big South Conference All-Freshman Team last season at the setter position and she is once against orchestrating the Runnin' Bulldog offense. Classmate Sophia Kotsovolos ranks seventh nationally with 5.8 digs per set at libero.
GWU Statistical Leaders
KILLS: #8 Jenna Otts (3.60 KPS) and #10 Autumn Flowers (2.00 KPS)
ACES: #19 Madison Smith (0.67 APS) and #3 Serena Kohler (0.33 APS)
ASSISTS: #9 Morgan Hornaday (8.50 APS) and #15 Paige Bernstein (2.50 APS)
DIGS: #7 Sophia Kotsovolos (5.80 DPS) and #19 Madison Smith (3.00 DPS)
BLOCKS: #22 Lovie Wallace (0.86 BPS) and #10 Autumn Flowers (0.78 BPS)
CAMPBELL COURT
The Camels went 0-3 at the Buffs Invitational in Boulder, Colorado, with losses to host Colorado, North Texas and UNLV. Campbell (0-3) will play three matches at the Pirate Invitational (Aug. 31-Sept. 2) before hosting the Eagles on Tuesday.
Campbell is playing first season in the newly renamed Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). The Camels completed in the Big South Conference last season and they return the BSC Defensive Player of the Year in senior libero Claranne Fechter. Fifth-year middle blocker Melody Paige joined Fechter on the All-Big South First Team while senior outside hitter Chloe Cook was on the Second Team. The Camels racked up a bunch of postseason awards for a program that won the Big South Conference regular season title last season with sophomore outside hitter Gwen Wolkow and sophomore middle blocker Aley Clent both collecting Big South All-Freshman Team accolades.
Campbell Statistical Leaders
KILLS: #18 Gwen Wolkow (2.67 KPS) and #3 Chloe Cook (2.42 KPS)
ACES: #18 Gwen Wolkow (0.42 APS) and Maddie Converse (0.18 APS)
ASSISTS: #14 McKenna Sciacca (4.92 APS) and #4 Maddie Converse (3.73 APS)
DIGS: #1 Claranne Fechter (3.67 DPS) and #14 McKenna Sciacca (2.17 DPS)
BLOCKS: #10 Melody Paige (1.08 BPS) and #22 Aley Clent (0.92 BPS)
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
