HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Talia Emmen finished with 14 kills and 11 digs and
Shalyn Bell added 13 kills, nine digs and five blocks but North Carolina Central fell to host Alabama A&M 3-2 (25-15, 29-27, 24-26, 20-25, 10-15) in a battle of unbeaten teams on the final day of the Betty K. Austin Invitational at Elmore Gymnasium on Saturday.
Despite the loss, the Eagles (2-1 overall) tied the 2020 squad for the program's best three-match start since becoming a full MEAC member in 2011.
Morgan Wingo and
Aniah Bass each chipped in nine kills and
Allyson Rouse had six kills and six blocks for the Eagles, who took the first set convincingly and outlasted the Lady Bulldogs in the second set. Alabama A&M (3-0 overall) rallied from behind in the third and fourth sets to tie the match.
NCCU was on the verge of winning the match in the third set. They led 24-22 before the Lady Bulldogs rallied.
The Eagles fell behind 9-5 in the fifth set but rallied within 10-9 on a kill by Wingo off an assist by
Jayla Egerton. Alabama A&M then pulled away for the victory.
Breylan Fairley collected 22 assists, four aces and nine digs while
Lusiana Damuni tallied 18 assists for the Eagles, who outscored the Lady Bulldogs in kills (57-56) and aces (7-6). NCCU outshot its SWAC opponent .223 percent to .184 percent but committed 16 service errors compared to 12 for Alabama A&M.
NEXT MATCH
The Eagles host Gardner-Webb in their home opener at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 1. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
