ELON, N.C. – Graduate student
Jeslyn Spencer supplied the North Carolina Central University volleyball team with a career-high 17 kills in a 3-1 loss to Western Carolina University at the Elon Volley for Unity on Saturday afternoon.
Spencer also contributed six digs, three assists, two block assists and NCCU's only ace on the way to a team-high 19 points. She also had a .256 hitting percentage for the contest.
The Catamounts came back from a 1-0 set deficit on the strength of a match-high 20.5 points from junior Bailey Hartsough, who totaled 17 kills, three aces and one block assist.
Western Carolina (3-6 Overall) made nine blocks and finished with a .232 hitting percentage on the way to winning 23-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-20.
The Eagles fell behind by four points on a couple occasions early in the first set, 5-1 & 8-4, before stringing together an 11-2 rally to pull ahead by five points, 15-10. NCCU was then able to hang on to the two-point win in the opening set. Spencer led the Eagles with 4.5 points in that frame, including three kills, one ace and one block assist.
Western Carolina broke an 11-11 tie in the second set with a little 5-1 run to pull ahead 16-12. The Catamounts maintained control of the set to win by eight points and level the match. WCU then hit .333 in the third set to win by 12 points and pull ahead in the match.
The Catamounts were clinging to a 14-13 edge midway through the fourth set before NCCU won four of the next five points to jump ahead 17-15 in an attempt to force a fifth set for the fifth time in its first six matches. However, Western Carolina closed the match on a 10-3 surge to complete the comeback.
Sophomore
Kamren Harper chipped in 11 kills and 11 digs while junior setter
Bella Dearinger added 21 assists and 10 digs. It was the second double-double of the season for both Harper and Dearnger. Junior
Loren Johnson continued her consistent play at libero with a season-high 25 digs.
Sophomore Ali Morris had a strong performance for the victors with 11 kills, 14 digs, five block assists and two aces. Senior Eden Punch led all players with seven block assists.
NC Central (1-5) will wrap up play in the Elon Volley for Unity with a showdown against the host Phoenix on Sunday at 2 p.m.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
