GREENSBORO - North Carolina A&T ran into the defending MEAC Champions on Friday night and had spurts of outstanding play. But S.C. State had too much experience and came away with a 3-0 (25-19, 16, 7) win over the Aggies at Corbett Sports Center.
Jeana Daniels finished with a season-high nine kills and a solo block and two block assists to her totals. Junior Andrea Evans added five kills, a block assists and a solo block.
The Aggies (0-21, 0-4) played strong defensively in the opening set. Devonte' Reese and Jeana Daniels combined for a block of Shabree Roberson to cut what was once a six-point lead to two at 18-16. The Aggies cut the Bulldogs lead to one on a Murphye Williams service ace.
S.C. State's combination of Desire Waller and Roberson proved to be tough to defense. Waller ended the Aggies rally with a kill to the middle of the floor. A ball handling error by N.C. A&T put S.C. State up three. The Aggies weren't able to get any closer as Elizabeth Webb ended the set with a kill.
N.C. A&T's start in the second was even more impressive. The Aggies jumped out to a 6-1 lead as Reese and Evans put up a wall against a Webb attack to record the block. But consecutive kills by Waller completed an 8-2 S.C. State run that pulled the Bulldogs to within one at 11-10.
The Aggies did not surrender the lead until a Reese attack error gave the Bulldogs a 16-15 lead. S.C. State (12-11, 4-0) went on to score 9 of the final 10 points in the set to take a two sets to none lead. The Aggies return to action Sunday at noon at Corbett Sports Center against Savannah State.
