DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central is heating up as the regular season winds down.

The Eagles gained their biggest win of the season, knocking off MEAC leader Coppin State 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-21, 27-25) at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Sunday.

The win was significant for several reasons. The Eagles stopped Coppin State's unbeaten conference run at 10 and ended an eight-match losing skid in the season series. They also stretched their winning streak to three matches.

NCCU, 6-5 in the MEAC standings, is tied with Delaware State and Maryland Eastern Shore for fourth place. Each team is one match behind Howard and Morgan State, both tied for second place at 7-4, with three matches left in the regular season.

RECORDS
NCCU – 6-5 MEAC and 9-15 overall
Coppin State – 10-1 MEAC and 17-11 overall

HARPER TALLIES CAREER HIGH IN DIGS, SETS DIGS MILESTONE IN VICTORY
Kamren Harper capped a productive weekend, leading the Eagles with 15 kills, a career-high 30 digs and three service aces against Coppin State. Two days earlier, Harper finished with 22 kills and 21 digs in a 3-2 victory over Morgan State.

It was fitting that Harper had a career-high in digs. She surpassed the 500-career dig milestone in the same match. The senior outside hitter is the only NCCU player in the Division I era to produce over 1,000 kills and 500 digs in a career.

Harper had plenty of help from her teammates. Tayah Little added 11 kills while Allyson Rouse and Makenzi Searcy contributed nine and eight kills, respectively. Manuela Cripa Nasser finished with 38 assists and Loren Johnson totaled 17 digs while Neira Joldic registered 13 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The match featured long rallies as both teams combined for 173 digs. Harper and the front line of Rouse, Little and Jenelle Mason sparkled defensively for the Eagles, who recorded seven block solos and 10 block assists.

Coppin State totaled more kills (57-50) but posted more attack errors (27-19) and a .159 attack percentage. The Eagles stepped up defensively to overcome a first-set loss and reel off three consecutive sets.

The fourth set swayed back-and-forth but a Coppin State attack error and a Searcy kill from Joldic clinched the victory.

QUOTES
"My heart dropped," Harper said about the winning point that gave the Eagles the victory. "I was so happy. I am proud of all my teammates. I could tell everybody wanted it. We worked together as a team."

"A huge confidence booster," first-year NCCU Head Coach Jonathan Paulk said. "We came out of that hard-fought five-set win on Friday [against Morgan State] and stayed locked in. We attacked really well and kept the ball in play. We kept our serves in play. We were positive in every stat category. We feel really good and we want to finish out really high in the standings."
NOTES

• The three-match win streak is the longest for the Eagles this season.
• The nine wins are the most for the Eagles in a season since 2021 when they picked up 11 wins.
• The Eagles, 5-2 at McDougald-McLendon Arena, are tough to beat at home.
• The victory ended an eight-match losing streak to Coppin State which started in 2021.
• Both teams split the season series.

NEXT UP
The Eagles travel to Howard on Friday, Nov. 7, and Norfolk State on Sunday, Nov. 9, to conclude their away schedule. The Howard match starts at 6 p.m. and the Norfolk State match begins at 1 p.m.

For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.