DURHAM, N.C. – The North Carolina Central University volleyball team took the first set in the Battle of the Eagles, but couldn't hold on and fell in four sets (25-23, 22-25, 15-25, 23-25) to Coppin State University Sunday at home in McDougald-McLendon Arena.

NCCU (6-16, 4-7 MEAC) was led by Emmie Modlin, who registered her second straight double-double with 18 kills and 10 digs on the day. Kamren Harper also added 10 kills to help the attack.

On the defensive end, Gabriela Felix-Baeza chipped in with 23 digs to go with two blocks from Tayah Little.

Vanila Pulu-Suliafu had a match-high three service aces. Bella Dearinger helped the NCCU Eagle attackers with a match-high 29 assists and also had a double-double of her own registering 11 digs.

How It Happened

The NCCU Eagles opened up an early one-set-to-none lead, taking a close first set 25-23. North Carolina Central trailed by as many as seven points but grabbed the advantage for good at 23-22 in a set that showcased two lead changes.

NC Central lost set two 25-22 to tie the match 1-1. The Coppin State Eagles grabbed the advantage for good at 15-14 in a set that was knotted up seven times before CSU took over in the second half of the stanza.

The Maroon & Gray fell again in the third set, making it a 2-1 deficit. The NCCU Eagles got behind on the first point fighting back the rest of the way before falling in the set 25-15.

NCCU lost set four and the match, 25-23. The NC Central Eagles dropped a back-and-forth set, losing in a stanza that featured five lead changes and was tied 15 times. Neither team gained a lead of more than two points along the way.

NC Central takes on Delaware State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore next weekend closing out its home slate. First up, the DSU Hornets visit on Friday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.