DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central totaled a season-high 18 service aces and added 13 blocks but came up just short in a 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 27-29, 25-19, 13-15) MEAC volleyball loss to Howard at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Friday.
The Eagles fell to 5-7 in the MEAC and 7-17 overall while Howard improved to 8-4 in the MEAC and 9-15 overall. The five-set battle was much closer than their previous meeting in October which Howard won 3-1 in Washington, D.C.
Talia Emmen led NCCU with five service aces while
Shalyn Bell and
Hailey Gibbons each added four.
Allyson Rouse amassed seven blocks,
Morgan Wingo collected six blocks and
Kayla Riley had three for the Eagles, who held advantages in service aces (18-7) and team blocks (13-12).
NCCU relied on serving and blocking to keep pace with Howard in a match that featured 28 ties and 15 lead changes. The 13 blocks tied a season-high for the Eagles.
The deciding fifth set featured six ties and three lead changes. Howard rallied from a 5-1 deficit to take a 12-10 lead but NCCU scored twice to even the score. A 3-1 Bison run sealed the match.
Wingo and Bell both tallied 10 kills to lead a balanced Eagles attack.
Aniah Bass and Riley each registered eight kills, Rouse chipped in six kills and Emmen had five.
Breylan Fairley distributed 24 assists followed by
Lusiana Damuni with 16.
Defensively, Bell collected 14 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. Gibbons added 12 digs and Emmen totaled 10 digs.
The match featured many momentum swings including a first-set rally by the Eagles. Trailing 18-9, NCCU reeled off eight consecutive points to close within 18-17 before winning the set 25-22. In the third set, NCCU held a 22-18 lead but Howard regrouped to win 29-27.
NCCU has played in seven five-set matches this season.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will host Norfolk State on Sunday, Nov. 8, at McDougald-McLendon Arena at 1 p.m.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
