PRINCESS ANNE, Md. – This was not Senior Night. This was not the regular-season finale. This time North Carolina A&T head coach Hal Clifton actually had to watch members of his first volleyball recruiting class – Brooke Stamnes, Ashley Johnson and Aleena McDaniel – play their final match.
Morgan State beat the Aggies in three sets Friday night (25-19, 25-11, 26-24) in the quarterfinals of the 2015 MEAC Volleyball Championships at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Hytche Athletic Center. It was the first time the two teams have met since 2006, also a 3-0 win by Morgan State in the MEAC tournament.
“It was so emotional and so bittersweet,” said Clifton, who led his seniors to three straight MEAC tournaments. “Aleena, AJ and Brooke came to a program that was near rock bottom four years ago as freshman with a huge mountain ahead of them. They have grown this program into one that is respected by many and laid a solid foundation for us to build on.”
Stamnes added nine kills to bring her final tally to 1,017, second all-time in school history. Johnson brought her school record number of digs 1,575 thanks to a six-dig performance. McDaniel ends her career with 828 kills. All three came to N.C. A&T a year after Clifton barely had enough bodies to put six players on the court.
“They took a chance on us, and I'm forever grateful that I had a chance to coach them,” Clifton continued. “They walk away with their heads high and college degrees. They are ready to take on the world from all the experiences they have gone through.”
The senior threesome was trying to be on the first team in 10 years to win a conference tournament match. But the Bears (12-15) jumped out to early leads in the first and second sets to put the Aggies one set away from having their season come to an end. The Aggies (7-14) did not surrender in the third set, however.
With MSU leading 22-18, the Aggies went on a 4-0 run fueled by a Stamnes kill and a McDaniel service ace. The Bears were able to score after a timeout to take a 23-22 lead before two Bears attack errors put the Aggies on the brink of extending the match to a fourth set. But the Bears scored the next three points thanks in part to kills by Haley McClue and Hayden to advance to the semifinals against Bethune-Cookman on Saturday.
As for the Aggies, they will retool to the point where they not only qualify for the tournament but advance. Six-foot middle blocker Te'Borah Hawkins-Hollingsworth, also a member of Clifton's first class, is expected to return in 2016 after sitting out this season. Her scheduled return should make the Aggies even stronger defensively at the net with sophomores Alyssa Pitt, Marteen Hill and Jasmine Lindor also expected to be back.
All three sophs had 40 or more total blocks this season. Sophomore outside/right side hitter Samara Brown could be set even more with McDaniel graduating. Keniah Rivera will come into spring practice looking to fill the void left by Johnson's departure. Finding someone to replace Stamnes' all-around production will be the task.
“I don't want to take away from our seniors, but we played four sophomores, two freshmen and a junior all at different times. All of those ladies received valuable experience this year. Our program will continue to grow as we have some very talented young ladies ready to fill in the shoes of our seniors. We have found some stability, and we will keep working toward the top of the mountain.”
