Laurinburg, NC- The Lady Vikings split the day 1-1 on the road at St. Andrews University Friday, September 10^th. ECSU came up short against Webber International 3-2 (25-15, 20-25, 25-22, 26-28, 15-11) and captured a win defeating St. Andrews University 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-17). 
 
Match 1 vs Webber International: The Vikings went toe to toe with the Warriors exchanging sets after getting off to a slow start in the opening set. 
 
This team has proven early on that they're resilient and able to make adjustments. That is one of the strengths head coach David Brooks is most confident in.
 
Junior Aasia McNeil (Statesville, NC) led the Vikings with 18 kills and 19 digs. Junior Elizabeth Kellum (Jacksonville, NC) led the Vikings in assists totaling 27. Freshman Mariah Griffin (Virginia Beach, VA) tallied four blocks.
 
The Warriors Sikkema Bailey led the team in kills with 12, and Amanda Vega added 38 assists.
 
HOW IT HAPPENNED: 
The Warriors were able to pull away in the first set, outscoring the Vikings 12-4 to capture the set. 
 
The Vikings maintained their composure and were more consistent in executing the game plan throughout the second set before back-to-back kills from Kellum, and freshman Jada Rouse (Rock Hill, SC) gave the Vikings the set 25-20. 
 
The third and fourth sets were a battle from start to finish, enduring eight score ties in set three and six in set four.
 
The Vikings went down 16-9 midway through the fourth set after six unanswered points by the Warriors, but the Lady Vikings did not rollover. Instead, the Vikings clawed their way back into the game, knotting the score at 22-all with back-to-back kills from McNeil after three consecutive kills from Rouse. 
 
The score was tied five more times before the Warriors could secure the set 28-26. 
 
A slow start in the final set ailed the Vikings and resulted in a Warriors victory.
 
Match 2 vs St. Andrews University: The Vikings dropped the opening set to the Knights 22-25, but the team bounced back to close out the match with a complete team effort. 
 
Junior Aasia McNeil (Statesville, NC) led the Vikings with nine kills; Freshman Mariah Griffin (Virginia Beach, VA) and freshman Jada Rouse (Rock Hill, SC) each added eight kills.
 
McNeil recorded 20 digs, Griffin had five blocks, Kellum totaled 22 assists, and senior Asia Jones (Rocky Mount, NC) had a pair of aces to lead the Vikings. 
 
Hailey Ferris led the Knights with 14 kills.
 
HOW IT HAPPENNED: 
The score was tied ten times in set one before three unanswered points gave the Knights the advantage and the set 25-22.
 
The Vikings were able to quickly regroup in the second set after the Knights jumped out in front 4-0. However, much like the first set, set two endured its fair share of score ties going down to the wire before ECSU captured the set 25-23.
 
The Vikings closed out the match on a high note outperforming the Knights and creating scoring margins to help ECSU pull away in the final two sets. 
 
The Lady Vikings will be back in action on Wednesday, September 15th^, in the R.L. Vaughan Center for their home season opener, hosting Regent University at 6 p.m.
 
Follow Elizabeth City State Athletics via its official website at www.ecsuvikings.com to get pre-and post-game stories and updates.
 
ECSU Athletics is also on social media, follow us on Twitter at @ECSUVikings and Instagram at @ecsusports