Durham, NC--The South Carolina State women's volleyball team opened its 2009 campaign going 0-2 at the Hilton RTP/NCCU Volleyball Tournament. The tournament, which was hosted by North Carolina Central University (NCCU), was contested at the McLendon-McDougald Gym, on the campus of NCCU.
In its first match of the day, SC State fell to Elon, 0-3, (18-25, 21-25, 15-25). Redshirt-freshman Melissa Robinson (Tallahassee, FL/Florida HS) led the Lady Bulldogs in kills with 10. Robinson also picked up 7 digs in her collegiate debut. Senior Linnie Garrett, (West Columbia, SC/Airport HS), sophomore Peri Ligons (Austin, TX/Connally HS) and freshman Jade Sanford (Dallas, TX/Skyline HS) each contributed five kills in the loss.
Traci Stewart led all attackers with 12 kills and Emily Regan put up 10 assists for Elon.
In its second match of the day the Lady Bulldogs fell to UNC-Asheville, 0-3, (19-25, 16-25, 23-25). Sanford put down a match-high 11 kills for the Lady Bulldogs. Senior Brittany Davis (Myrtle Beach, SC/Socastee HS) contributed eight kills and sophomore Bria Brimmer (Austin, TX/Connally HS) put up 17 assists in the loss.
Kelsey Benorden put down nine kills while Lauren Ficker contributed eight kills to pace UNC-Asheville in the victory.
