DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team will be on the road for the first time in conference play this season heading to Baltimore, Md. for matches at Morgan State University (Friday, Oct. 4, 4 p.m.) and Coppin State University (Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m.).
COMING UP:
Friday, Oct. 4 – 4 p.m.
NC Central at Morgan State
Hill Field House, Baltimore, Md.
Sunday, Oct. 6 – 1 p.m.
NC Central at Coppin State
Physical Education Complex, Baltimore, Md.
Live Stats | ESPN+
NC CENTRAL COURT
NCCU (3-10 Overall, 1-1 MEAC) earned its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory in last weekend's opener defeating Norfolk State University 3-2 (19-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-21, 15-13) on Sept. 27. The Eagles dropped the first two sets before coming back victorious. The follow-up against Howard University on Sept. 29 ended in a three-set defeat for NC Central.
Kamren Harper averaged 4.38 kills per set steered by her performance against Norfolk State leading both squads in kills with 25. Harper was the only Eagle in double-figures in kills against Howard.
The Eagles are in the top 75 in the nation in team attacks per set (55th – 36.33), team digs (73rd – 789), team service aces (60th – 90) and team total attacks (69th – 1,889). NCCU leads the conference in digs (15.11 per set).
NC Central has won the last six matches against Morgan State in nine meetings dating back to 2007. Coppin State has won the last five matches out of 15 against NCCU. The last time NCCU defeated MSU was in 2021 in a 3-2 home victory.
NCCU Statistical Leaders – Per Set
KILLS: #13 Kamren Harper (2.85) and #36 Emmie Modlin (2.44)
ACES: #35 Gabriela Felix-Baeza (0.44) and #1 Bella Dearinger (0.31)
ASSISTS: #1 Bella Dearinger (8.25) and #35 Gabriela Felix-Baeza (0.58)
DIGS: #9 Loren Johnson (3.64) and #35 Gabriela Felix-Baeza (3.10)
BLOCKS: #18 Kayden Cupid (0.74) and #10 Tayah Little (0.56)
MORGAN STATE COURT
Last week Morgan State (4-12 Overall, 0-2 MEAC) dropped their first two conference matches against the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (Sept. 27) and Delaware State University (Sept. 29). The Bears took UMES to five sets and lost in straight sets to DSU.
MSU's Daniela Ferreira led her team in kills with 14 while Addison Metts had 10 kills and eight digs against UMES. Mya Karrick totaled 35 assists as well during that match. No player for Morgan State was in double digits in any category against Delaware State.
The Bears are 22nd in the nation in team service aces (102) and are seventh in team total blocks (149.0). Jada Williams leads the MEAC in blocks per set (1.20) and is 11th in the country in total blocks (73).
MSU Statistical Leaders – Per Set
KILLS: #9 Daniela Ferreira (2.12) and #8 Addison Metts (1.93)
ACES: #2 Mya Karrick (0.38) and #4 Trinity Carruthers (0.31)
ASSISTS: #4 Trinity Carruthers (4.24) and #2 Mya Karrick (4.13)
DIGS: #8 Addison Metts (2.11) and #5 Hannah Chappelle (1.78)
BLOCKS: #1 Jada Williams (1.20) and #11 Aubrey Wilson (1.02)
COPPIN STATE COURT
Coppin State (6-11 Overall, 2-0 MEAC) was one of two MEAC schools to complete the first conference weekend without a loss along with Howard. The CSU Eagles defeated Delaware State 3-1 (Sept. 27) and UMES 3-2 (Sept. 29).
TaKenya Stafford of CSU had back-to-back 22-kill performances, including a double-double against DSU with 11 digs. Gabriela Zuquelo also had a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs versus the Hornets. Stafford's performance garnered MEAC Player of the Week honors while Coco Figueroa's 38 digs through both matches earned her MEAC Defensive Player of the Week.
CSU is in the top 15 in three national categories including team assists (13th – 695), team kills (14th – 746) and team total attacks (11th – 2,142). Stafford is 19th in the nation in total attacks (599) also leading the MEAC.
CSU Statistical Leaders – Per Set
KILLS: #8 TaKenya Stafford (3.46) and #21 Sophia Bertotti Metoyer (2.20)
ACES: #13 Kahea Carvalho (0.32) and #1 Coco Figueroa (0.30)
ASSISTS: #13 Kahea Carvalho (5.80) and #19 Azul Pilahg (4.20)
DIGS: #1 Coco Figueroa (3.07) and #8 TaKenya Stafford (2.64)
BLOCKS: #21 Sophia Bertotti Metoyer (0.63) and #15 McKenzie Parks (0.55)
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
