BOX SCORE
GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T’s major problem in 2009 surfaced again Sunday afternoon. The Aggies lack of height around the net allowed Florida A&M hitters to have free reign.

The Rattlers produced a .542 hitting percentage, including a .667 hitting percentage in the third set to defeat the Aggies 3-0 (25-11, 25-8, 25-13). Janae Mitchell led the Aggies with six kills. Florida A&M, winners of the last eight MEAC Championships, was led by Jovana Blazeski’s 12 kills. Maria Ceccarelli recorded 11 kills, no attack errors and .688 hitting percentage.

The Aggies started out well in the third set after the first two sets went decidedly to the Rattlers. The Aggies took the lead for the first time in the match on Bridget McCaskill cross-court kill from an Amber Inman set. But Avianca Manning’s kill tied the set at 6.

The Rattlers (11-8, 5-0 MEAC) regained the lead on a Blazeski kill that landed right in front of a diving McCaskill. Mellette tied the set at 7 on a kill that she placed in front of Rattlers defender Susan Egoavil. The Aggies lost their short-found momentum with a service error by Kaneisha Winfield.

Egoavil returned the favor with a service error of her own. But McCaskill’s service error sparked a Rattlers run the Aggies never recovered from. After a LaShawn White kill pulled the Aggies to within one at 11-10, the Rattlers went on a 9-2 run that included six Rattler kills.

The Aggies will return to action Friday night when they host Winston-Salem State at 6 p.m., from Corbett Sports Center.