EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T women's volleyball (18-9, 10-5 Big South) got even with USC Upstate with a 3-1 win (26-28, 25-23, 25-22, 25-18) Friday night at Moore Gymnasium. In doing so, they got a preview of their first-round opponent at next week's Big South Conference tournament in Buies Creek, N.C.
With Winthrop's win on Friday night, the Aggies (18-9, 10-5 Big South) and Upstate (14-14, 10-5 Big South) are locked into either the fourth and fifth seeds, depending on what happens in Big South action on Saturday. Winthrop (17-9, 12-4 Big South) secured the No. 3 seed; therefore, the No.4/5 match at the tournament will be A&T versus Upstate. The Aggies and Spartans split their regular-season matchups this season.
"It was a good win to beat them in four," head coach Hal Clifton said. "It's a good quality win, and they served really well from the inline.
We were able to get our middles involved to get outsides one-on-one. Overall, we played pretty steadily. There were tight sets here and there. There were some tight runs in each set."
Three Aggies recorded double-doubles. Edie Brewer (6-0, GR, setter, West Chester, Ohio) led the Aggies with a match-high 21 assists and added a career-high 20 digs. She also had seven kills and three blocks.
Hannah Howell (6-0, FR, outside hitter, St. Louis Park, Minn.) recorded her first career double-double with 11 kills and 17 digs to go along with three service aces. Naiya Sawtelle (6-0, FR, outside hitter, Stuart, Fla.) recorded her 10th double-double this season with 10 kills and 16 digs.
"We prepared all week for (Upstate), and we had it on our board since our first loss against them," said Howell. "It was really exciting to get that win in four."
The Aggies did drop the first set despite reaching set point with a kill apiece from middle blocker Shaylynn Hall (6-1, SR, Raleigh, N.C.) and Brewer. The Spartans tied the set by scoring the next two points before the Aggies reclaimed the lead on a Fatimah Shabazz (6-0, R-SR, right side, Cincinnati, Ohio) kill.
A kill from Upstate's Briana Strobert and an ace by Alexis Mareko gave the Spartans the lead. Hall tied the match at 26 with a kill before a Breena Gamueda kill and a block assists from Allie Hamsher and Nikki Deslatte gave the Spartans the set.
A&T took the next three sets even though the Spartans did not make it easy. The Aggies claimed a 22-17 lead on an Addy Warfield (5-9, JR, setter, Winter Springs, Fla.) kill. But the Spartans went on a 6-1 run to tie the set at 23. But the Aggies stem the tide as Shabazz's kill gave the Aggies the lead back, and middle blocker Mallory Porcher (6-0, JR, Orlando, Fla.) evened the match with a kill to end the set.
There were several runs in the third set. First, upstate went on a 5-0 run to take an 11-10 lead. Later, the Aggies went on a 5-0 run to take an 18-15 lead. Upstate answered with a 4-0 run to capture a 19-18 advantage. But with Upstate leading 21-20, an A&T 5-1 run clinched the third set.
Outside hitter Hannah Howell (6-0, FR, St. Louis Park, Minn.) and Hall combined for two block assists during the run as the set ended with that combination's block assist.
Powered by Porcher in the fourth set, the Aggies put the Spartans away in the fourth set. Porcher had three blocks, including two solo blocks and a kill, to lead A&T to victory.
"We were ready for them," said Porcher. "We've been practicing for them all week. It felt good to get a win at home. I was ready to be disciplined on their shots, and where they hit and knowing it before they hit it."
Porcher led the Aggies with six blocks, including a match-high three solo blocks. She also had seven kills and a .455 hitting percentage. Hall recorded seven blocks, including two solo blocks, to go along with seven kills.
Warfield contributed to the win with 19 assists and nine digs. Shabazz added 10 kills and two blocks. Andrea Laboy-Rivera (5-5, SR, libero, Coamo, Puerto Rico) recorded a match-high 24 digs.
Gamueda led the Spartans with 10 kills.
