MONTGOMERY, Ala. (August 26, 2016) – North Carolina A&T volleyball opened their season by battling to two different fifth sets before losing both to first Alabama State (13-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-15, 15-7) and then Alabama A&M (21-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-22, 15-11), Friday at the ISTAP Collegiate Cup hosted by Alabama State at Dunn-Oliver Arena.  

The Aggies are facing the preseason top-four predicted finishers in the Southwestern Athletic Conference throughout the tournament in Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Jackson State and Texas Southern.

“Overall, today was a good day,” said head coach Hal Clifton.  “It's hard to say that after losing both matches in five sets, but seeing glimpses of what can be is so exciting.”

In the earlier match, the Aggies dominated the first set before falling in Set 2. They regained the lead with a close 3-point win after junior Samara Brown slammed down a kill. The Hornets were strong in the fourth set after the Aggies took a 10-8 lead on an Alyssa Pitt kill. ASU ran off 12 straight points to take a 20-10 lead before eventually winning 25-15.

Positive momentum for the Hornets carried over into the fifth set as they took a 10-0 lead on their way to the 15-7 match-clinching set.

Brown made her presence felt early, ultimately producing 15 kills, seven digs and a .186 hitting percentage against ASU. Senior setter Liz Martino came up a double-double by compiling 22 assists and 10 digs.  In her first appearance since 2014, senior Te'Borah Hawkins-Hollingsworth had six kills, four blocks and two digs. Pitt added nine kills.

Briana Dorsey led the Hornets with 14 kills and a .370 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Krysta Medearis added 12 kills and a .250 hitting percentage.

In the afternoon matchup, N.C. A&T won the first two sets and were in close contest in the third. An ASU attack error pulled the Aggies to within two in the third set, 19-17. But the Bulldogs scored the next three points and went on to win the third set by four, 25-21. The Aggies had another chance to secure the match victory in the fourth as an Ashundria McNeal attack error moved the Aggies to within one, 19-18.

A 3-0 run put the Bulldogs ahead by four before the Aggies got back to within one at 23-22. A Bulldogs service ace and an attack error by Pitt gave the Bulldogs the victory in Set 4 for a 2-2 tie in the match. In the fifth set, a Hawkins-Hollingsworth kill cut the Bulldogs lead to 9-8. A 5-1 run, however, all but put the Aggies away against AAMU.  

Brown had an incredible second match of the day. She posted 15 kills, seven digs and six service aces to go along with a .321 hitting percentage.  Freshman Leila Haynesworth had a chance to display her talents as well playing in all five sets with eight kills.  Martino had 28 assists and sophomore libero Keniah Rivera Santiago had 12 digs.

McNeal, a preseason first-team All-SWAC selection, led the Bulldogs with 14 kills (.188), seven digs and two serving aces. “We made some good plays, but we have to learn to sustain our level of play for longer periods of time,” Clifton said.  “We are learning match management and mentally it is a challenge, but our girls are starting to figure these things out.”

Play resumes for the Aggies (0-2) at 10 a.m., as they face the reigning SWAC champion Jackson State Tigers before going up against Texas Southern at 4:30 p.m.