WILLIAMSBURG,
Va., -- Vast improvement was shown by the North
Carolina A&T volleyball team on Saturday, but the Aggies still
dropped
two matches at the Tribe Invitational played at William and Mary.
Rider
defeated the Aggies 3-0 (25-17, 18, 20) and host William and Mary won
3-0 (25-14, 19, 10) over the Aggies.
In the morning match, a more aggressive Aggies team recorded 102
attacks, but they were only able to put down 25 kills. Bridget
McCaskill's 10 kills marked the first time in her career she has
recorded double-figure kills. Stacey Malone had 15 digs and Janae
Mitchell added 10 digs.
In the first two sets, the Aggies lost steam midway through. The
Aggies
took a 13-11 lead in the first set thanks to a block from LaShawn
White
and a kill from McCaskill. Rider would score the next three points
before a Tiffany Mellette kill tied the set at 14. But a 9-2 run
fueled
by four Kristy Love kills helped Rider pull away.
The following set saw the Broncos make a bad set and three straight
attack errors to assists the Aggies during a 4-0 run that saw N.C.
A&T
take a 15-14 lead. After a Broncos timeout, the Aggies continued to
fight as a Bree Dotstry kill gave N.C. A&T a 17-16 lead. But the
Broncos
scored the next six points to take control of the set. In the third
set,
the Broncos took a 15-9 lead and were never seriously threatened the
rest of the way.
In the match against the Tribe, Mitchell had five kills and Mellette
and
Malone had 12 digs apiece. Mellette was named to the all-tournament
team. The Aggies are back in action 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4 when they
take on Georgia State in the Georgia State Tournament.