PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – Shalyn Bell amassed 18 kills, 13 digs, seven aces and three blocks and
Breylan Fairley set the program's Division I single-match record with 59 assists as North Carolina Central surged ahead late in the fifth set to defeat Maryland Eastern Shore 3-2 (25-15, 24-26, 25-22, 24-26, 15-12) at the Hytche Center for its first MEAC volleyball win of the season.
Bell, who was named player of the match, tied a season high in kills and set season highs in digs and aces. Fairley's 59 assists broke the previous single-match record of 58 held by former Eagle Celene Morris for seven years. Morris set the previous mark against Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 17, 2019.
Keyed by Bell's hitting and Fairley's setting, the Eagles' frontline produced 64 of the team's 68 kills to key the win.
Talia Emmen added 15 kills and
Morgan Wingo delivered 13 kills while
Aniah Bass and
Allyson Rouse contributed 10 and eight kills, respectively. Wingo paced the Eagles (1-1 MEAC, 3-10 overall) with four blocks and Rouse tied Bell with three blocks.
"Shalyn played like a leader," said NCCU Head Coach
Jonathan Paulk about his squad, which features 10 freshmen and no seniors. "She led our team in three categories. Morgan showed grit playing through a rolled ankle. We showed how well we can play at moments and we just have to keep working to make that the norm."
"Breylan distributed the ball so much better today," Paulk added. "She established our middles early and kept them involved along with the right side and backrow attack. That made everyone's life a lot easier and led to a ton of assists."
The trio of Bell, Rouse and Wingo each had two kills in the fifth set for the Eagles, who outscored the Hawks 6-3 to break a 9-9 tie. Wingo finished off UMES with a kill on Fairley's assist for the Eagles' victory.
Jayla Edgerton totaled 11 digs and Fairley and
Alex Fuller chipped nine and seven digs, respectively, for the Eagles, who overcame several momentum changes in the match. NCCU built a 19-11 lead to win the opening set but UMES (1-1 MEAC, 2-11 overall) held off an Eagles' rally in the second set after leading 20-14.
The Eagles regained control in the third set, leading 23-14 at one point, before holding off the Hawks by three points. In the fourth set, NCCU rallied from a 17-10 deficit to tie the score three times – the last time at 24-24 – before UMES scored the final two points. The 2-2 tie set up a deciding fifth match where the Eagles' frontline took charge for good.
The Eagles dominated statistically, outscoring UMES in kills (68-41) and service aces (13-6) in addition to totaling more assists (65-35) and digs (57-50). Their .233 hitting percentage was higher than the Hawks' .168 hitting percentage.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will host Morgan State in their home opener on Friday, Oct. 2, inside McDougald-McLendon Arena at
4 p.m.
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.
