GREENSBORO (October 30, 2016) – Junior Samara Brown has played a versatile role for the North Carolina A&T volleyball teams since she arrived. In addition to her ability passing, set and defend at the net, Brown is quickly adding offensive weapon to her capabilities. Brown had her fourth straight match with her kill totals in the teens or higher to lead the Aggies to a four-set win (25-18, 25-13, 21-25, 25-12) over South Carolina State Sunday afternoon at Moore Gymnasium.

Brown finished with 17 kills, seven digs and had a .375 hitting percentage, and she had plenty of help offensively as the Aggies posted a season-high .415 hitting percentage in the win. Fifth-year middle hitter Te'Borah Hawkins-Hollingsworth returned to her usual form, getting a season-high 12 kills with a .588 hitting percentage. Freshman Christa Wilson had a few season highs herself. Her 14 kills and .440 hitting percentage were season bests and she added eight digs to her totals.

Juniors Jasmine Lindor and Alyssa Pitt were on the brink of double-figure kills. Lindor had nine kills, a .500 hitting percentage and continued to be one of the best defenders in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference with three block assists. Pitt had eight kills and a .312 hitting percentage.

“I'm proud of my team for grinding out the win,” said N.C. A&T head coach Hal Clifton who saw his team to improve to 9-11 overall and 6-1 in the MEAC. “We have come a long way and though we are still climbing the mountain, our team is making good changes.”

Clifton's team looked outstanding over the first two sets, cruising to wins with a combined .457 hitting percentage going into intermission. When the Aggies came back after the 10-minute break, the Bulldogs (0-24, 0-9 MEAC) were more competitive. There were 10 ties in the set before the Bulldogs took a 23-20 lead on an Aggies attack error. An Aggies service error and attack error would help SCSU win the set.

Obviously, this did not sit well with the Aggies. They dominated the fourth set. The Aggies never lost their lead in the final set of the day, eventually gaining a 21-10 lead before closing out the set with an incredible .667 hitting percentage that was secured because of only one attack error in the set. 

“After struggling to put the match away in the third set, our players settled down and really took care of business in the fourth. That's what we need to do more consistently.”

N.C. A&T takes to the road next week to compete against two conference opponents in Florida.  The Aggies face Bethune-Cookman on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. before traveling north to Tallahassee to take on Florida A&M on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 3 p.m.  The Rattlers, still undefeated in conference play, are the Aggies only MEAC loss this season.