DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central extended its winning streak over South Carolina State in a 3-0 volleyball victory (25-17, 25-15, 25-19) at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Friday.
The victory was the 23
rd straight over South Carolina State, including 12 in a row at home. The Eagles controlled the match as they snapped a three-match losing skid and defeated the Lady Bulldogs in three sets for the 20
th time during the streak.
Aniah Bass led a balanced NCCU effort with nine kills and
Talia Emmen added seven kills.
Allyson Rouse and
Shalyn Bell both contributed six kills while
Morgan Wingo and
Kayla Riley each chipped in five kills.
Breylan Fairley totaled 23 assists and
Lusiana Damuni added 14.
The Eagles, one of the MEAC's top hitting teams, posted a .258 hitting percentage, their third highest overall this season. NCCU led in several other statistical categories, including service aces (11-3), kills (41-23), assists (40-22) and digs (50-37). The Lady Bulldogs, which entered the match ranked eighth in the MEAC in hitting percentage, finished at .010.
Fairley collected four service aces followed by
Hailey Gibbons with three and Bell with two. Bell also tallied 16 digs while Emmen and Fairley each had six. Bass and Rouse both had four block assists as the Eagles registered seven total blocks as a team.
The Eagles trailed only once in the match. They opened the first set with a 4-0 lead before an 8-0 rally pushed the margin to 13-4. The Lady Bulldogs closed within 22-16 but the Eagles finished strong to secure the 25-17 victory.
In the second set, the Eagles scored seven straight points to stretch their lead to 18-6. The Lady Bulldogs got within 21-14 but the Eagles pulled away for the 25-15 second-set win.
The Eagles used a 9-0 spurt in the third set for a 12-3 lead. The Lady Bulldogs rallied within 23-18 but the Eagles sealed the sweep on block assists by
Peyton Jenkins and
Tabitha Newlin for the 25-19 victory.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will step out of conference for a road match against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, N.C., on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
