Box Score

NORFOLK, Va. — Belinda Behncke-Biney tallied a double-double of 16 kills and 14 digs to lead the North Carolina Central volleyball team to an exciting 3-2 (25-22, 21-25, 24-26, 25-19, 16-14) win over Norfolk State on Saturday afternoon at Gill Gym.

With the win, NCCU improved to 6-15 on the season, while NSU fell to 2-15.

Each set in the match was close and both teams played with very high levels of intensity. In the first set, the Lady Eagles got on the board first, but the Spartans did not let them open up a big lead. A service ace by Tracey Copley (Virginia Beach, Va.) tied things up at 20-all, but Raven King answered on the other end with a kill to put NCCU up by one, 21-20.

The Lady Eagles then used a 4-2 run to take the first set.

NCCU jumped out to a 5-1 lead to start the second set. NSU tied it 6-all on a kill by Elayne Greer (Bakersfield, Calif.), but the Spartans found themselves behind again a few plays later. Tied at 22-all, however, Charlotte Armstead (Williamsburg, Va.) delivered back-to-back kills, and a blocking error by Shantel Moore gave NSU the win.

The Spartans took the third set and the Lady Eagles took the fourth, sending the match into a decisive fifth set.

NSU came out hot in set 5, opening it on a 5-2 run. But NCCU would not give up. There were five ties after this point, the last being 14-all after a kill by Moore. Behncke-Biney followed with a kill of her own and an attack error by Nicole Kessner (Blacksburg, Va.) sealed the win for NCCU.

Moore also had a double-double for the Lady Eagles. She had 11 kills and 13 digs. Avaniki Campbell had 10 kills and 10 block assists and King had a match-high 18 digs.

For NSU, Armstead and Ellica Morris (Bedford, Texas) had career-highs of 13 kills each. Solange Honore (San Fernando, Trinidad) had 16 digs, while Aurelia Isham (Lancaster, Texas) had 22. Kessner led all players with 44 assists.

NSU returns to action on Wednesday in a 6 p.m. matchup against Alabama State at Echols Hall.