North Carolina A&T

In four years as a North Carolina A&T volleyball player, Arlene Mitchell developed into one of the best hitters in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) history. She is undoubtedly one of the best players to grace the court for the Aggies. A native of Henderson, NC, Mitchell was a  three-sport standout (volleyball, girls' basketball, and girls' track and field) at Southern Vance  High School. With help from her twin sister, Darlene Mitchell, Arlene led the Raiders to the state  Class 2A volleyball title in 2002. She also led the 

Raiders to a state track and field title while winning event titles in the 4x100, 4x200, and 100- meter hurdles. After many colleges pursued the Mitchell twins to play collegiate volleyball, the duo decided to attend A&T under head coach Kathy Bullock. Mitchell played outside hitter throughout her four-year career and became an immediate success. As a freshman, she earned  All-MEAC honors, A&T Female Freshman of the Year, and Outstanding Female Athlete of the  Year. In her sophomore year, she received NC A&T Aggie Club Award and MVP. As a senior,  she was named MVP, Senior Female Athlete Award, and was in the A&T Sports Hall of Fame. award recipient. 

The Aggies finished 17-15 overall and 9-2 in conference play. By her sophomore season, she  and her sister were the undisputed leaders of the volleyball program under new head coach  Millicent Sylvan. Mitchell led the MEAC in kills per set (4.32) and ranked second in points per set and third in services aces per set while earning her second straight All-MEAC honor. 

An ankle injury slowed Mitchell down during her junior campaign, but she battled back to lead the A&T to one of its best seasons. The Aggies finished 22-18 overall and 9-1 in the MEAC and made an appearance in the MEAC championship match against Florida A&M. At season's end,  Mitchell earned her third straight All-MEAC honor. The Aggies had another winning season in  2006, going 17-14 overall and 7-3 in conference play. 

Mitchell earned first-team All-MEAC honors by averaging 4.27 kills, 0.65 services, and 2.48 digs per game. Mitchell's name appears throughout the A&T and MEAC volleyball record books. She is the program's all-time leader in kills (1,674), services aces (277), and total points (2,198.5).  She owns the single-match kills record for a five-set match (33) and a four-set match (27). In  addition, she was the first player in school history to record more than 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in a career. Only one other Aggie has accomplished the feat since Mitchell's final season in  2006. 

She never finished lower than 30th nationally in services aces per game. Over her final two seasons, she finished fourth and eighth nationally, respectively. Mitchell also led the MEAC in service aces per game over her last two seasons in an Aggies uniform. She ranks fourth in  MEAC history in kills, second in service aces, and 10th in total points. Her 0.77 service aces per game in 2005 ranks as the sixth-best season in MEAC history. 

Her talent and effervescent personality made her one of the most popular student-athletes over her four-year career at A&T. She was a leader in SAAC during her time in Aggieland, and she graduated with a degree in sports science and fitness management in 2007. She even gave back to her beloved A&T volleyball program after graduation, serving as an assistant coach from 2008-16. Today, Mitchell and her sister Darlene own The Mitchell Twins, Inc., where they are certified, fitness coaches and nutrition specialists. The twin tandem also owns a clothing line,  Black Colleges Rock, and they coach the Dudley girls' volleyball team.