DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University's volleyball team begins competition against Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponents at McDougald-McLendon Arena facing Norfolk State University (Friday, Sept. 27, 6 p.m.) and Howard University (Sunday, Sept. 29, 1 p.m.).
COMING UP:
Friday, Sept. 27 – 6 p.m.
Norfolk State at NC Central
McDougald-McLendon Arena, Durham, N.C.
Live Stats
Sunday, Sept. 29 – 1 p.m.
Howard at NC Central
McDougald-McLendon Arena, Durham, N.C.
Live Stats
NC CENTRAL COURT
NCCU (2-9 Overall, 0-0 MEAC) earned its second win of the season in their last match. The Eagles defeated UNC Charlotte 3-2 at the Queen City Invitational on Sept. 20-21. East Tennessee State University and Queens University triumphed in the first two matches of the tournament against NC Central.
Two all-tournament performers in Charlotte last weekend from the Maroon and Gray squad were junior Gabriela Felix-Baeza and sophomore Kayden Cupid who averaged 2.00 kills per set through three matches and 0.90 blocks per set. Felix-Baeza's 60-dig performance at the Queen City Invitational awarded her MEAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. She also had a 0.922 service percentage with 12 aces.
NC Central holds spots in the top-100 in the nation including digs per set (15.41 – 71st), aces per set (1.86 – 45th) and team attacks per set (36.68 – 45th). Senior Bella Dearinger leads the MEAC in total assists (364) and is second in assists per set (8.27).
The Eagles hold a 13-5 winning record against the Spartans with NSU winning the last two meetings. NC Central is looking for its first victory in the Division I era against the Bison.
NCCU Statistical Leaders – Per Set
KILLS: #13 Kamren Harper (2.57) and #36 Emmie Modlin (2.43)
ACES: #35 Gabriela Felix-Baeza (0.50) and #1 Bella Dearinger (0.34)
ASSISTS: #1 Bella Dearinger (8.27) and #36 Emmie Modlin (0.61)
DIGS: #9 Loren Johnson (3.64) and #35 Gabriela Felix-Baeza (2.95)
BLOCKS: #18 Kayden Cupid (0.85) and #19 Summer Campbell (0.55)
NORFOLK STATE COURT
Last weekend Norfolk State (5-7 Overall, 0-0 MEAC) competed in the Charleston Southern University Invitational on Sept. 20-21. The Spartans went 2-1 at the tournament winning matches against the host school and Sacred Heart University but falling to Western Illinois University.
NSU sophomore Gabrielle Gilbert was awarded MEAC Player of the Week for her 4.67 kills average and four double-doubles at the CSU Invitational and against Hampton University last week. Junior Sydney McCree had 118 assists (9.8 per set) with two 30-plus assist outings in Charleston, S.C. winning MEAC Setter of the Week.
Gilbert is currently ranked in the top-40 in the NCAA in aces per set (0.55 – 27th), kills per set (4.13 – 39th), service aces (22 – 29th) and points per set (4.86 – 31st). The Spartans lead the MEAC in hitting a percentage of 0.210 just above Howard's 0.209.
NSU Statistical Leaders – Per Set
KILLS: #11 Gabrielle Gilbert (4.13) and #7 Alexa Harris (2.73)
ACES: #11 Gabrielle Gilbert (0.55) and #1 Sydney McCree (0.40)
ASSISTS: #1 Sydney McCree (9.05) and #3 Lily Rose-Pichon (0.98)
DIGS: #3 Lily Rose-Pichon (3.73) and #4 Jordan Lyons (2.28)
BLOCKS: #6 Adlene Jideofor (0.80), #24 Jala Dixon (0.68) and #7 Alexa Harris (0.68)
HOWARD COURT
Howard is coming off a 1-1 homestand. The Bison (6-5 Overall, 0-0 MEAC) were victorious against Princeton University on Sept. 20 winning 3-0 but was defeated by High Point University on Sept. 21 in straight sets.
HU junior Rya McKinnon was in double digits in kills in both matches with 15 each. Junior Leah Reeves had a total of 66 assists and junior Claire Simpson gathered 21 digs in both matches.
The Bison are currently in the top-100 in the nation in aces per set (1.83 – 53rd), opposing hitting percentage (0.172 – 68th) and team service aces (77 – 67th). McKinnon leads the conference in several categories including attacks per set (11.45), kills per set (4.36), points per set (4.94) and total kills (183). Junior Claire Simpson leads the MEAC in total digs (191) and digs per set (4.55).
HU Statistical Leaders – Per Set
KILLS: #9 Rya McKinnon (4.36) and #28 Dami Awojobi (2.38)
ACES: #28 Dami Awojobi (0.45), #13 Leah Reeves (0.36) and #9 Rya McKinnon (0.36)
ASSISTS: #22 Sydnei Jones (8.19) and #13 Leah Reeves (4.64)
DIGS: #4 Claire Simpson (4.55) and #28 Dami Awojobi (2.64)
BLOCKS: #6 Maya Gerlach (1.29) and #17 Cimone Woodard (0.83)
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