GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina Central Eagles faced a challenging start to their 2024 volleyball season, falling to in-state rival North Carolina A&T in straight sets (22-25, 18-25, 22-25) at the Corbett Sports Center on August 30, 2024.
Despite the loss, the Eagles showed moments of brilliance, particularly from key players like Bella Dearinger, Emmie Modlin, Makenzi Searcy and Summer Campbell. Modlin and Searcy led the charge as both had a team-high 10 kills, showcasing their ability to finish plays even against a strong Aggies defense. Campbell contributed solidly at the net with multiple blocks, adding to the team's defensive efforts while Dearinger recorded 21 assists.
The first two sets were tightly contested, with the Eagles staying neck-and-neck with the Aggies. In both sets, NCCU managed to keep the score close, never letting NC A&T pull away by more than a few points. However, despite their resilience, the Eagles struggled to close out key rallies, which allowed the Aggies to edge them out in the final moments of each set.
NCCU's serve reception was another area where the Eagles were under pressure. While libero Loren Johnson worked tirelessly in the back row, recording 12 digs, the team's overall reception percentage dipped, contributing to fewer successful attacks.
The third set saw NCCU falter as NC A&T capitalized on their momentum. The Eagles' errors began to pile up, leading to an increased gap in the scoreline. Despite a late surge with key plays from Makenzi Searcy and Dearinger, the Aggies maintained their composure to seal the match.
Head coach Jody Brown acknowledged the tough start but remained optimistic about the team's potential. "We saw some good things out there, especially in the first two sets. We just need to clean up our errors and improve our consistency. This match gives us a good foundation to build on for the rest of the season."
The Eagles will look to bounce back as they prepare for their match tomorrow when they face the Aggies at home in McDougald-McLendon Arena at 6 p.m.
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