DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central makes its regular-season home volleyball debut against Gardner-Webb at McDougald-McLendon Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at 6 p.m. Admission is free.
The non-conference match can be seen on the MEAC Network. Live stats will be available on nccueaglepride.com.
The Eagles are coming off one of their most successful season-opening weekends as a Division I program. Their 2-1 record ties the 2020 team for the program's best three-match start in the Division I era.
NCCU fared well against the SWAC in the Betty K. Austin Invitational in Huntsville, Ala., on Aug. 28-29. The Eagles defeated SWAC preseason favorite Florida A&M in four sets, swept Arkansas-Pine Bluff in three sets and lost to Alabama A&M in five sets.
Junior outside hitter
Talia Emmen and sophomore middle hitter/blocker
Allyson Rouse led the Eagles in their three matches. Emmen recorded 33 kills and 31 digs overall and posted a .400 hitting percentage in the Arkansas-Pine Bluff win. Rouse tallied 17 blocks and 23 kills with a .378 hitting percentage including a .571 average against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Emmen finished with 12 kills and 13 digs while Rouse had a career-high eight blocks in the Florida A&M victory. Emmen tallied her second double-double in the Alabama A&M loss, tallying 14 kills and 11 digs, and Rouse totaled six blocks.
After the first weekend, Emmen ranks fifth in kills per set (3.00) and seventh in digs per set (2.82) in the MEAC. Rouse is third in hitting percentage (.378) and fourth in blocks per set (1.42).
Both players are among several Eagles ranked in the MEAC statistics in their respective categories. Sophomore outside hitter
Shalyn Bell ranks ninth in kills per set (2.45) and freshman setter
Breylan Fairley is first in service aces (11) and seventh in assists per set (5.33).
Junior middle blocker
Morgan Wingo (.375) and freshman right-side hitter
Aniah Bass (.267) are fourth and ninth, respectfully, in hitting percentage while freshman setter
Lusiana Damuni ranks 10
th in assists per set (4.82).
NCCU will host Gardner-Webb for the second straight year. Last year, both teams split the season series with the Eagles winning 3-0 at home and falling 3-1 on the road. Gardner-Webb leads the season series 13-2 but has lost in its last two visits to NCCU.
The Runnin' Bulldogs enter Tuesday at 1-2 overall with their lone win coming against Morgan State 3-0 in the Lehigh (Pa.) Tournament on Saturday. Sarina Galyean sparks the visitors in kills per set (2.56) while Olivia Lefebvre and Ivey Lucas are the leaders in assists per set (3.67). Kiera Vazquez leads Gardner-Webb in digs per set (2.56) and Parker Lafontaine is the team's top blocker (0.57 per set).
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
