NCCU'S UPSET BID FALLS SHORT AT NCAA VOLLEYBALL REGIONAL
November 9, 2006
LOCK HAVEN, PA - North Carolina Central University continuously battled with its back against the wall, but the Eagles' valiant efforts fell short as they ended their historical season with a 3-1 (30-16, 27-30, 30-28, 33-31) loss to the host and No. 1-seed Lock Haven University Thursday night.
NCCU (32-13) was charged by junior outside hitter Shari Matthews with a match-high 33 kills, improving her NCAA Division II single-season record to 974 kills. She also added 12 digs and seven blocks.
NCCU junior Kai Wright played her best match of the season with 11 kills and a match-high 19 digs, while junior middle hitter Rachel Walters contributed eight kills and seven blocks.
Playing in the final match of her Eagle career, NCCU's single-season assist leader, Latoya Tate recorded a match-high 48 assists and amassed 10 digs.
The match brings to an end one of the best seasons in NCCU volleyball history. This season, NCCU extended its CIAA winning streak to 36 straight contests and won two tournaments in which the Eagles was the lone NCAA Division II representative (the Hampton University Lady Pirate Invitational and the Winston-Salem State Lady Rams Invitational).
The 32 wins by NCCU were the most in school history and head coach Georgette Crawford-Crooks' squad leaves the CIAA as winners of the past three conference championships.