Lady Eagles Nip Lady Tigers in Straight Sets
DURHAM, N.C. – Freshman Bree Simmons served up three of North Carolina Central University’s 10 aces in a 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) win over Southern Division rival Savannah State University on Sunday afternoon in the L.T. Walker Complex.
The Lady Eagles (3-16 Overall, 2-1) moved back over .500 in the MEAC with the 25-21, 25-21, 27-25 triumph. Despite playing all three sets closely, the Lady Tigers (0-21, 0-4) have yet to win a set this season.
Simmons scorched her three aces late in sets two and three to help NCCU stay ahead of Savannah State. Junior Kelsey Murphy and freshman Tamika Brekke added a pair of aces each as the Lady Eagles tallied 10 total aces, which made the squads season-high mark that was first set in a five-set match against Loyola University.
Murphy continued her outstanding campaign with a 15-point performance that featured 12 kills, two aces and a solo block to end the first set.
Senior Kelly Rossip blasted seven kills with only two errors on 19 attempts for a team-best .263 hitting percentage. She was one of three NCCU players with seven digs, joining Brekke and junior Casey Curran.
Curran set up the Lady Eagles attack with a match-high 28 assists as the Maroon and Gray finished with a .149 hitting percentage.
Freshman Kierra Shipman chipped in six kills and Rossip registered two block assists.
Junior Gabrielle Nathaniel paced the Lady Tigers with 10 points, comprised of eight kills and four block assists. Junior Caitlynn Masoe notched 23 assists and classmate Alexis Washington logged 13 digs.
NCCU will complete the first half of its MEAC Southern Division play with a road trip to Florida to play Florida A&M University (Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 PM) and Bethune-Cookman University (Sunday, Oct. 11 at 12 PM) next weekend.
For complete story, visit www.nccueaglepride.com or www.ssuathletics.com
Howard knocks off Coppin State
BALTIMORE – The Coppin State volleyball team dropped its home opener to Howard, 3-0, in the Auxiliary Gym of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) match Sunday afternoon.
Howard captured the match by scores of 25-19, 25-23, 25-22. In the second and third sets, Coppin State almost overcame eight-point deficits to put itself in position to reverse the outcome. In the second set, the Lady Eagles trimmed an 8-1 deficit at the start to 24-23 and an 18-10 hole to 24-22.
Coppin State (5-9 overall, 2-1 MEAC) had its four-game winning streak snapped despite a match-high 27 assists from senior setter Chelsee Sauni. She has 3,396 assists in her sterling career. Senior outside hitter Cindy Okpegbue and sophomore Bailee Jackson combined for 15 kills. With her eight kills, Okpegbue raised her career tally to 1,078.
Freshmen Samantha Polk and Alexa Williams had five kills each for the Lady Eagles. Okpegbue and sophomore Glory Rosado combined for 50 percent of Coppin State’s 34 digs. Rosado had a team-high nine digs.
Howard (6-13, 3-1) was led by Khalia Donaldson’s 10 kills and Tamia Dockery’s 21 assists.
Coppin State returns to action Friday night when it visits Delaware State at 6:00 p.m. The Lady Eagles will also host Maryland Eastern Shore Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
For complete story, visit www.coppinstatesports.com or www.hubison.com