BUIES CREEK – North Carolina A&T and Campbell have now played two five-set volleyball thrillers in 2021. Unfortunately, Campbell won both. After winning a five-setter at Moore Gymnasium three weeks ago, the Camels won another five-setter on Friday night at Gore Arena, 25-18, 25-17, 24-26, 19-25, 15-11, to end A&T's four-match winning streak. 

The loss drops the Aggies (15-8, 7-4 Big South Conference) into a fourth-place tie with Winthrop after A&T entered the match in third place. Campbell (15-8, 10-1 Big South) remains a match behind first-place High Point University.

"Not the outcome we were wanting tonight," A&T coach Hal Clifton said. "Another five-setter that didn't go our way. We started sluggish tonight but then started gaining momentum in the third, and our team came to life. I'm really proud of how we fought to make it go five. I love this team and the way we come together for one another. 

We are still growing and learning, but we know we can compete with the top teams in the Big South."

Naiya Sawtelle (6-0, FR, outside hitter, Stuart, Fla.) led the Aggies with 16 kills and 16 digs for her seventh double-double of the season. Hannah Howell (6-0, FR, outside hitter, St. Louis Park, Minn.) almost posted a double-double with nine kills and nine digs. 

Like the first meeting at Moore, Campbell won the first two sets. The Aggies battled back to win the next two before Campbell claimed set No. 5.                                                         
With Campbell looking for a straight-set win with a 19-11 lead in the third, the Aggies got a lift from Macenzie Richards (6-foot, SR, right side, Pickerington, Ohio). Richards recorded two kills during a 5-1 A&T run that cut the Camels lead to 20-16. 

Campbell would extend its lead to 23-18 before a 3-0 Aggies spurt fueled by two Sawtelle kills got the Aggies to within two. A Chloe Cook kill pushed the Camels lead to 24-21, but the Aggies scored the final five points of the set to extend the match to a fourth set. 

The Aggies run included two block assists. Both included Shaylynn Hall (6-1, SR, middle blocker, Raleigh, N.C.). Hall also had a kill during the spurt to cut Campbell's match lead to 2-1. 

After a Cook kill got Campbell to within three, 22-19, the Aggies closed the fourth set with three straight points to tie the match at 2. 

The final frame was close as neither team could get more than a one-point lead. With the set tied at 9, a Sarah Colla kill, and an Aggie attack error gave Campbell an 11-9 advantage. Sawtelle's kill cut the lead to 11-10, but the Camels ended the match and the set on a 4-1 run led by two Lailah Green kills. 

Edie Brewer (6-0, GR, setter, West Chester, Ohio) recorded a match-high 36 assists and added seven kills, six digs and two blocks. Hall recorded a team-best five blocks, including two solo blocks, and added five kills with a .385 hitting percentage. 

Andrea Laboy-Rivera (5-5, SR, libero, Coamo, Puerto Rico) recorded a team-best 19 digs, and Richards recorded five kills and two blocks. Maya Johnson (6-0, FR, middle blocker, Austin, Texas) tied a career-high with four blocks. 

Cook led Campbell with 20 kills and added 12 digs for a double-double. Emily Mitter also recorded a double-double with 26 assists and 16 digs, and Claranne Fechter recorded a match-high 24 digs.