DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team had more digs than Santa Clara University, but the Eagles were still unable to stop a strong attack by the Broncos in a 3-0 non-conference home loss on Thursday afternoon.
 
Graduate student Jeslyn Spencer led NCCU with 10 kills, two aces and one block assist for 12.5 points. Spencer has now reached double-digit kills in three matches this season.
 
Defensively, junior setter Bella Dearinger made a season-high 16 digs and classmate Loren Johnson scooped up 13 digs, her fifth consecutive double-digit dig performance, in helping the Eagles stay in the match and force numerous long rallies.
 
Santa Clara (8-2 Overall) still hit .250 for the match on the way to winning 25-22, 25-20, 26-24. The Broncos ripped 42 kills, including a match-high 13 kills by senior Sophia Tulino.
 
The Eagles flew out to a 16-12 lead in the first set before Santa Clara finish the opening frame on a 13-6 rally. Sophomore Elena Radeff netted all six of her kills in the first set to help the visitors comeback.
 
The Broncos never trailed in the second set and they rushed out to an 11-7 edge in the third set. However, NCCU rallied to take a late 21-18 advantage with a 14-7 run that featured two kills and two aces by Spencer. Santa Clara called a timeout at that point and then fought back by winning eight of the next 11 serves to win by just two points. That late surge featured four of junior Oren Abutbul's five kills.
 
Sophomores Kamren Harper and Emmie Modlin chipped in seven and five kills, respectively. Dearinger added seven assists and two aces to go along with her season-high 16 digs.  
 
NC Central (1-8) will now have eight days to prepare for its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opener at Norfolk State University on Friday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.