DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team will entertain neighbor Duke University for the first time in 48 years when the Eagles and Blue Devils take the court inside McDougald-McLendon Arena on Wednesday. The Eagles will quickly turn around and host a team from California in Santa Clara University on Thursday at 4 p.m.
 
FUNDRAISER
 
NCCU and Duke co-hosted a community event at the Boys & Girls Club of Durham & Orange Counties (BGCDOC) last Wednesday and the Eagles and Blue Devils have invited the members of the club to attend the match between the two Durham NCAA Division I volleyball programs this Wednesday as they team up to help fundraise for the BGCDOC.
 
DONATE; STORY ON COMMUNITY EVENT
 
UPCOMING MATCHES:
 
Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m.
Duke at NC Central
McDougald-McLendon Arena, Durham, N.C.
VIDEO (NCCU Sports Network); LIVE STATS
 
Thursday, Sept. 14 at 4 p.m.
Santa Clara at NC Central
McDougald-McLendon Arena, Durham, N.C.
VIDEO (NCCU Sports Network); LIVE STATS
 
NC CENTRAL COURT
 
The Eagles have lost their last four matches, including their last two at the Elon Volley for Unity over the weekend. NC Central (1-6 Overall) is 1-0 at home.
 
The sophomore duo of Kamren Harper and Emmie Modlin rank in the top-10 hitters in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) with averages of 3.13 and 3.03 kills per set, respectively. Graduate student Jeslyn Spencer tallied a season-high 17 kills in Saturday's match against Western Carolina on the way to joining Harper on the Elon Volley for Unity All-Tournament Team.
 
NCCU's specialists continue to increase their production on the season. Junior libero Loren Johnson has reached double-digit digs in 6-of-7 matches this season and has a team-high average of 3.57 digs per set. Junior setter Bella Dearinger has three consecutive double-doubles and is contributing 6.20 assists and 1.97 digs per set.
 
The Eagles and Blue Devils last met at Duke on Sept. 17, 2021, with the hosts winning in three sets. Duke is 2-0 against NCCU since the Eagles joined the DI ranks. NC Central volleyball will be hosting Duke for the first time since Oct. 23, 1975. Junior Lejla Viteskic is the only current Eagle to have played against the Blue Devils, recording one kill as a rookie in the last meeting two seasons ago.
 
NCCU will be playing Santa Clara for the first time in program history.
 
NCCU Statistical Leaders
KILLS: #13 Kamren Harper (3.13) and 36 Emmie Modlin (3.03)
ACES: #10 Jeslyn Spencer (0.40) and #13 Kamren Harper (0.30)
ASSISTS: #1 Bella Dearinger (6.20) and #2 Azra Osmanovic (2.50)
DIGS: #9 Loren Johnson (3.57) and #1 Bella Dearinger (1.97)
BLOCKS: #20 Kennedy Clark (0.92) and #5 Amarah Johnson (0.60)
 
DUKE COURT
 
The Blue Devils have rattled off six consecutive matches, including going 2-0 in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge last weekend against Michigan State and Michigan. Duke (6-2 Overall) is receiving votes in the current AVCA national poll.
 
Graduate student Gracie Johnson is a Preseason All-ACC Team honoree and she leads the Blue Devils with 0.47 aces per set while ranking second on the team with 2.63 kills per set and third on the team with 2.13 digs per set. Sophomore Kerry Keefe was named All-ACC Freshman Team last year and is Duke's top hitter this season with an average of 3.32 kills per set. Graduate student Emma Worthington is leading the Blue Devils in assists for a fourth consecutive season, averaging 9.21 assists per set.
 
Johnson had four kills, one ace and four digs in just two sets played in Duke's victory over NCCU in 2021.
 
Duke Statistical Leaders
KILLS: #11 Kerry Keefe (3.32) and #7 Gracie Johnson (2.63)
ACES: #7 Gracie Johnson (0.47) and #6 Rylie Kadel (0.42)
ASSISTS: #10 Emma Worthington (9.21) and Millie Muir (3.55)
DIGS: #21 Madison Bryant (3.84) and Emma Worthington (2.46)
BLOCKS: #16 Lizzie Fleming (1.17) and Jess Robinson (1.11)
 
SANTA CLARA COURT
 
The Broncos went 1-1 in the Santa Clara Mission Classic they hosted last weekend, losing to Air Force before knocking off CSU Bakersfield. Santa Clara (7-2 Overall), located on the southern end of the San Francisco Bay area, will play three matches in the Triangle Area over the next three days (at NCCU Thursday, at North Carolina on Friday and at Duke Saturday).
 
Senior libero Kat Georgiadis and sophomore middle blocker Lia Okammor were both named Preseason All-West Coast Conference. Georgiadis leads the Broncos with 3.43 digs per set and Okammor tops the team with 1.11 blocks per set. Junior Sophia Tulino is a former All-WCC Honorable Mention selection and she leads the team with 3.71 kills per set. Sophomore Layla Truitt, who is second on the team with 3.15 kills per set, ranks 22nd nationally with 0.63 aces per set for a Broncos team that ranks 15th nationally with 2.17 aces per set.
 
Santa Clara Statistical Leaders
KILLS: #19 Sophia Tulino (3.71) and #16 Layla Truitt (3.15)
ACES: #17 Anna Stucchi (0.63) and #19 Sophia Tulino (0.46)
ASSISTS: #15 Nive Tuileta (10.12) and #23 Alexis Cady (4.00)
DIGS: #1 Kat Georgiadis (3.43) and Nive Tuileta (2.06)
BLOCKS: #12 Lia Okammor (1.11) and Oren Abutbul (0.93)
 
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