Box Score

SALISBURY, NC – The Livingstone volleyball team fell in non-conference action Wednesday to the North Greenville Crusaders 3-0 (18-25, 14-25, 17-25) at the New Trent Gym.

Livingstone came out and grabbed a quick 2-0 lead over the Crusaders in the first set, but North Greenville rattled off eight-straight points to take an 8-2 edge.  The Blue Bears slowly fought their way back into the set and got as close as three points at 21-18, but were unable to finish off the comeback.  North Greenville took the final four points of the set to take the first set 25-18.

The Blue Bears and Crusaders battled through the first 20 points of the second set with the score knotted at 10-10.  Despite the strong play through the early part of the second set, Livingstone struggled immediately following, dropping 10 of the next 12 points and trailed 20-12.  The Blue Bears picked up two quick points to get within 20-14, but couldn't continue the momentum as the Crusaders picked up the last five to take the second set 25-14.

Early in the third set the Blue Bears looked primed to extend the match to at least a fourth set.  Livingstone led North Greenville 7-3 early, but a 7-1 run by the Crusaders gave North Greenville 10-8 edge, a lead they didn't relinquish.  North Greenville took the final set 25-17 and the match 3-0.

Senior Lashaundra Ferguson led the Blue Bears with seven kills while senior Shannon Allen also tallied six kills.  Allen also led the team with eight assists while freshman Ariel Moton led the team with seven digs.

As a team the Blue Bears had 22 kills and a .068 hitting percentage with 14 assists, 10 service aces, 26 digs and three team blocks.  The Crusaders finished with 37 kills and a .364 hitting percentage with 33 assists, 10 service aces, 28 digs and three team blocks.

With the loss the Blue Bears fell to 2-2 on the young season while North Greenville improved to 2-3.

The Blue Bears will travel to Winston-Salem, NC this weekend to participate in the first weekend of the volleyball round-up.  On Saturday the Blue Bears will compete against conference opponents Virginia Union at 10 a.m. and Lincoln (PA) at 2 p.m.