North Carolina Central Beats South Carolina State in Volleyball

The South Carolina State women’s volleyball team closed out its 2026 regular season on Friday evening, falling in straight sets to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) rival North Carolina Central inside Dukes Gymnasium with scores of 15-25, 15-25, and 18-25.

At the close of regular-season competition, the Lady Bulldogs held a 6-24 overall record alongside a 1-13 standing in MEAC matchups. Meanwhile, North Carolina Central improved to 10-17 overall and 7-7 in conference action.

Even with the loss in three straight sets, South Carolina State displayed an uptick in offensive production during the third frame by putting up 12 kills—the team’s highest of the match—while continually pushing back against a high-performing Eagles offense. Jessika Martinez led the Lady Bulldogs offensively with six kills and a .273 hitting percentage.

Five kills came from Kenna Harris, while Arianna James chipped in four kills paired with a team-leading nine assists. Macey McCoy added seven assists to help direct the South Carolina State offense.

On the defensive side, Ki’ra Wright paced the squad with seven digs, and Jayden Mathis alongside Jordan Dalland each contributed five digs. De’Oni McPhearson contributed two solo blocks.

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North Carolina Central established control early in the opening set after the teams battled through several ties. Following a 10-10 tie, the Eagles rattled off nine consecutive points to pull ahead 19-10 before closing out a 25-15 triumph.

Beginning the second set with similarly competitive play, South Carolina State erased an early deficit to capture a 13-12 edge. The Lady Bulldogs stayed within striking distance prior to a 10-point scoring run by the Eagles that secured another 25-15 decision.

In the third set, South Carolina State continued to compete despite falling behind early. Putting together their most productive offensive frame of the night, the Lady Bulldogs tallied 12 kills, which featured three apiece from Martinez and Taelyn Graham. However, North Carolina Central maintained its advantage and completed the sweep with a 25-18 decision.

Shalyn Bell paced the Eagles by recording a match-high 10 kills and four service aces. Setting duties were handled by Breylan Fairley, who posted 14 assists and notched nine service aces, while Talia Emmen contributed seven kills and nine digs.

Accumulating 36 kills and a .364 hitting percentage, North Carolina Central outpaced South Carolina State, which finished with 24 kills and a .147 hitting percentage. The Eagles also held a commanding 17-1 advantage in service aces.

Interim head coach Chymaine Guinyard wrapped up the Lady Bulldogs’ regular-season slate with this fixture. South Carolina State will look to build on the experience gained throughout the season as the program continues its development heading into the offseason.

For the latest news, scores, and updates on Bulldog athletics, fans can visit www.scsuathletics.com.

The team will return to competition against the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference on November 20, 2026, with the match time to be announced.