DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central hit a season-high .307 and totaled a season-high 14 service aces in a 3-0 volleyball victory over Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday at McDougald-McLendon Arena. The scores were 25-18, 25-14 and 25-19.
The Eagles topped their previous season high of .264 hitting against UNC Greensboro. They eclipsed their previous best of 13 aces in a 3-2 September win over UMES and against Norfolk State.
Talia Emmen collected nine kills on .316 hitting and
Shalyn Bell added nine kills on .222 hitting for the Eagles, who defeated UMES for the third straight time.
Allyson Rouse finished with eight kills on a team-high .727 hitting and
Aniah Bass contributed seven kills on .238 hitting.
Morgan Wingo chipped in six kills on .286 hitting.
Breylan Fairley spearheaded a balanced offensive attack with 25 assists and Luisiana Damuni added 12 assists.
Bell tallied five of the Eagles' 14 aces while Fairley added three.
Hailey Gibbons, Damuni and Emmen had two aces apiece.
The Eagles controlled the match from the outset. They led in every major category to improve to 4-5 in the MEAC and 6-15 overall.
While NCCU posted its best hitting percentage of the season, the Hawks were held to .072 hitting as they fell to 1-8 in the MEAC and 2-18 overall. Gibbons led the Eagles defensively with 15 digs and Emmen added nine digs. Bell and Fairley finished with seven digs each and Bell, Rouse and Bass each tallied two blocks.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will be in Baltimore this weekend to face Morgan State on Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. and Coppin State on Nov. 1 at 1 p.m.