South Carolina State Rallies To Defeat NCCU, 3-1

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -North Carolina Central (1-10) jumped out to a quick 25-15 win over South Carolina State University (2-10) Friday afternoon to open the South Carolina State Spikefest, but the Lady Bulldogs refused to back down as they rallied from one set down to claim a 3-1 win over the Eagles in the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, defeating the Eagles 15-25, 25-21, 25-14 and 25-17.

The Eagles relied on their powerful defense to control the Lady Bulldog attack as NCCU out-numbered South Carolina State in blocks and digs with 11 and 33, respectively. Freshman middle hitter Kalin Russell paced the Eagle blocking game with a season-high eight blocks, including a solo shot. She also added four kills on offense.

Senior outside hitter Belinda Behncke-Biney paced the Eagle offense with 10 kills and three service aces. Junior transfer Emanuelle Santos recorded eight kills and led the NCCU defensive efforts with eight digs. She also had three blocks. Russell notched a .429 clip on the offensive end to lead the Eagles in hitting percentage.

South Carolina State was led by Shabree Roberson with 11 kills, while Peri Ligons and Elizabeth Webb added nine kills apiece. Bulldog setter Bria Brimmer collected 33 of South Carolina State's 37 assists.

For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com

UMES Sweeps Howard At Kristin Dickmann Tournament

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Freshman Kaveingna Lea'Aetoa had a game-high 10 kills and hit .350 to lead the Maryland Eastern Shore to a 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-16) non-conference victory over Howard in the opening match of the Kristin Dickmann Memorial Tournament at Navy's Wesley A. Brown Field House.

The win for UMES (4-7), is its third consecutive and second in a row in straight sets. Howard fell to 1-11 with the loss.

Freshman Maline Vaitai chipped in with eight kills and redshirt senior Samantha Chukwura tallied six with a .462 attack percentage.

Sophomore Stephanie Sierra directed the offense with 18 assists and junior Rebecca Prado recorded 10 of the team's 30 digs.

Howard received a team-high eight kills from Tosin Elebute in the loss.

For the complete story, visit www.umeshawks.com

Morris' Career Day Leads NSU Over Gardner-Webb, 3-1

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Riding a career performance by sophomore Ellica Morris, Norfolk State ended its six-match losing streak with a 3-1 win over Gardner-Webb Friday afternoon at the Spartan Spiketacular at UNC Greensboro.

Morris totaled 21 kills on the day at Fleming Gymnasium and hit .341 to go along with nine digs as the Spartans rallied after dropping the first set, 25-23. NSU won the next three sets, 25-19, 25-18, 25-23, to improve to 4-8 on the year. The loss dropped the Runnin' Bulldogs to 4-7.

Morris broke her previous career high for kills in a match of 13 set against North Carolina Central Oct. 3, 2009.

Freshman Arielle Knafel posted a double-double for NSU with 13 kills and a match-high 21 digs, while junior Nicole Kessner rebounded after missing significant time the last two weekends with 34 assists. Sophomore Charlotte Armstead added seven kills, five blocks and three service aces to the effort.

The Bulldogs were led by Laura Wilcox, who was one of three players in double figures in kills with 13. Melissa Richie had 10 kills and a team-high 15 digs, while Evan Moffitt also posted a double-double with 32 assists and 10 digs.

For the complete story, visit www.nsuspartans.com

Hornets Snap Skid With Win Over Quinnipiac

Dover, Del. (Sep. 17, 2010) --- Sarah Wheatcroft and Erica Tajchman recorded double figures in kills and digs to lead Delaware State to a 3-2 victory over Quinnipiac at the Lafayette Invitational today.

The win snapped a seven match losing streak for the Hornets, who improved to 3-8 on the season. Quinnipiac fell to 1-9.

Delaware State won the decisive fifth game 15-8 to claim the match. The Hornets took game one 25-17. Quinnipiac bounced back with a 25-20 win in game two. The teams split games three and four.

Wheatcroft had 11 kills and a 17 digs, while Tajchman collected 11 kills and 12 digs. Elisa Hermann led the Hornets with 17 kills, while Sonja Banicevic had a game-high 30 digs.

Martina Ferrari had 39 assists for DSU.

Kelby Carey led Quinnipiac with 13 kills, while Kayla Lawler had a game-high 44 assists.

For the complete story, visit www.dsuhornets.com

Bethune-Cookman Tops Providence, Savannah State at Home

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman kicked off the inaugural Bethune-Cookman Beach Bash with a great start, downing both opponents on the first day of competition. The LadyCats dropped Big East opponent Providence College in straight sets (25-23, 25-23, 26-24) in a battle to start the day. In back-to-back matches, B-CU returned to rout Savannah State after allowing them to take the first set, winning 3-1 (26-24L, 25-14, 25-14, 25-12).

The sweep gives the LadyCats (4-11) their first winning streak of the season and kept B-CU unbeaten at home. It also gave B-CU its first tournament victories of the year after starting the season winless at three weekend tournaments.

B-CU had strong hitting efforts in the first and third sets, hitting .318 in the opener and .297 in the final set.

Against Providence, Jessica Wilson registered 13 kills while Krysta Gardner and Kaiyana Johnson added nine each as the Wildcats prevailed in the tightest of three-set contests; all three sets were decided by two points (25-23,25-23 and 26-24). The match featured 28 ties and 16 lead changes. Alexis Bliese recorded a career-best 42 assists, while also topping her best performance offensively with 3 kills from the setter position. Jacqueline Woodyear recorded 14 digs to lead the team, while Wilson and Janeen Davis each collected nine.

The Savannah State match saw the Wildcats play with a sense of urgency and redemption after dropping the first set 26-24, as B-CU made the same valiant comeback as against Providence, but fell short, 26-24. The second set saw a totally different aggressiveness from B-CU on the floor, dominating from start to finish, leading by as many as 11, and going on to win 25-14. B-CU carried their momentum forward, routing the Lady Tigers in the final two sets with consecutive 13-point wins, taking the second and third 25-12 for the 3-1 win.

For the complete story, visit www.bcuathletics.com

 

Mercer Too Much As Eagles Fall In Three

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Jzima-Malaki Kalao put on an outstanding performance for the North Carolina Central Eagles (1-11) Friday afternoon in volleyball action with 30 assists and a season-high 15 digs in a head-to-head battle that saw the Mercer Bears (4-10) defeat NCCU in three straight sets by scores of 25-17, 28-26 and 25-17 at the South Carolina State Spikefest in the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.

Two NCCU student-athletes recorded double-figure digs for the second time this season. Kalao collected 15, while junior defensive specialist Raven King accounted for 11 of the Eagles' 48. Once again, NCCU remained in control of the net with seven blocks as Sashalee Wallen, Tasha-Gaye Richards and Belinda Behncke-Biney each recorded three blocks with Richards and Behncke-Biney notching a solo.

The other side of the net was controlled by Mercer power hitter Krista Hurley who hammered a .500 with 10 kills and just one error. Her partner in crime was Amiee Frutchey with six kills. Bridget Sheerin added 23 assists and three service aces. On the defensive end, the Bears were anchored by Charlotte Harris with 16 digs.

For the complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com

Additional Scores Listed below- Recaps to Follow

Citadel  3, Hampton 1
South Carolina State  3, Hampton  0
Providence  3, Savannah State  0
Georgia State 3, Florida A&M 0
UNC-Greensboro 3, Morgan State 0
UNC-Asheville  North Carolina A&T-scores unknown