BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- The North Carolina Central University volleyball team claimed its first victory of the season over Campbell University on Saturday as the Lady Camels hosted this weekend's tournament at Gore Arena. The Eagles fell short in the second match of the day against American University, 3-1.
In the first match, NCCU fired back after dropping set one to secure a 3-1 win (23-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-16) against Campbell.
The Eagles were led by a double-double from Emmie Modlin, who registered 10 kills and 10 digs in the match. Kamren Harper also added 15 kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, Neira Joldic chipped in with 19 digs to go with four blocks from Kayden Cupid.
In match two, NC Central was defeated by American in four sets (21-25, 13-25, 25-17, 26-28) in the battle of the Eagles.
The duo of Modlin and Harper came up big again with Modlin earning her second double-double of the day registering 15 kills and 16 digs. Harper also had nine kills. On the defensive end, Karolina Zubkova gathered 21 digs to go with five blocks from Harper.
Game Notes – Match 1: Campbell University
» North Carolina Central had three players in double figures in kills.
» The Eagles had five players in double figures in digs.
» Tayah Little had a match-high three aces in the win.
» Modlin registered a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs.
» NC Central never trailed on the way to winning the second set 25-19.
» Harper had a match-high 15 kills for North Carolina Central.
» The Eagles got a team-high 19 digs from Neira Joldic.
» NCCU's attackers were helped by a match-high 37 assists from Bella Dearinger.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Eagles couldn't endure a furious Campbell rally in the first set, losing 25-23 after leading by seven points at 17-10 earlier in the set.
SET 2 | North Carolina Central rallied from a first-set loss to take the second set 25-19, evening the match at one set apiece. The Eagles led from the first point on to secure the victory. North Carolina Central opened up as much as a seven-point lead at 23-16 before closing out the set. NCCU's offense also got a boost from three aces in the stanza.
SET 3 | The Eagles built on that second-set success with a victory in set number three to open up the lead at two sets to one. NC Central came out on top of a close battle, winning 26-24 in a set that was tied 10 times and had four lead changes.
SET 4 | NCCU closed out the match with a 25-16 fourth-set victory, winning their third straight set. The Eagles took the lead for good at 12-11 in a set that showcased three lead changes before the Eagles took over. NC Central also supplemented their offense with three aces in the set.
Game Notes – Match 2: American University
» North Carolina Central had five players in double figures in digs.
» Gabriela Felix-Baeza had a match-high four aces in the loss.
» Modlin registered a double-double with 15 kills and 16 digs, also having a team-high in kills.
» NCCU got a team-high 21 digs from Zubkova.
» North Carolina Central attackers were helped by a team-high 34 assists from Dearinger.
» The non-conference loss moved North Carolina Central to 1-7 on the season.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The NCCU Eagles found themselves in an early deficit, losing the first set 25-21. North Carolina Central trailed by as many as seven points as American never surrendered the lead.
SET 2 | NC Central fell in set two 25-13, digging a 2-0 hole in the match. The Eagles dropped the first point and fought from behind the rest of the way before dropping the set.
SET 3 | The Maroon & Gray stayed alive with a victory in set three to make it a 2-1 match. The Eagles won the set 25-17 taking the lead for good at 8-7 in a set that showcased four lead changes before the NCCU took over the lead.
SET 4 | North Carolina Central couldn't keep the momentum and lost in the fourth set 28-26 to drop the match. The Eagles fell in a close set, losing in a stanza that was tied 11 times and had three lead changes.
The Eagles play in their last non-conference tournament of the season before starting Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play. NC Central travels to Charlotte, N.C. on Sept. 20-21 for the Queen City Invitational co-hosted by UNC Charlotte and Queens University.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com, or download the NCCU Eagles Athletics app.
