Women's Volleyball | 8/31/2021 11:10:00 PM
DURHAM, N.C. – Even though they are in different conferences, the same animosity exists. North Carolina A&T's chief rival from down the street took the fight to the Aggies early in non-conference volleyball action before the Aggies dominantly finished the match in a four-set win (20-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-11) over N.C. Central at McDougald-McLendon Arena Tuesday night.
"All things go out the window when you play your rival," said A&T coach Hal Clifton after coaching the Aggies to their ninth straight win over NCCU. "Central came out strong with lots of energy in front of a big crowd. It took us until the end of the second set to match the energy and to bring up our level of play. We had players come off the bench and compete and did a great job. It's a long season, and we will need that depth. I'm proud of how we fought back."
Edie Brewer (6-0, GR, setter, West Chester, Ohio) recorded her third consecutive double-double to open 2021, finishing with18 assists and 13 digs. She came close to recording a triple-double after posting eight kills to go along with four service aces.
Naiya Sawtelle (6-0, FR, outside hitter, Stuart, Fla.) led the team with 10 kills and added six digs, a solo block and a service ace. Addy Warfield (5-9, JR, setter, Winter Springs, Fla.) led the team with 22 assists and nine digs.
"I think that once we figured out our groove and rhythm, we started to play very well," Warfield said. "We did a very good job on adjusting and figuring out what we needed to do to win. I am so proud of everyone, and I think this match was a great learning experience. We will only go up from here!"
Fatimah Shabazz (6-0, R-SR, right side, Cincinnati, Ohio) and Courteney Pitt (6-1, GR, outside hitter, Farmville, N.C.) recorded eight kills. Both liberos reached double-figures in digs with Andrea Laboy-Rivera (5-5, SR, libero, Coamo, Puerto Rico) recording 11 and Nadia Montalbán-El Hiriche (5-6, SR, libero, Granada, Spain) recorded 10.
NCCU led from start to finish in the first set. On an Edie Brewer attack error, the Eagles (0-1) reached their biggest lead of the set, 13-6. The Aggies did get the lead down to three, 15-12, on a Shabazz kill. But the Eagles ran off the next three points to take an 18-12 advantage.
A 5-1 run capped off by a Sawtelle kill chopped the Eagles lead down to two, 19-17. The Eagles scored three straight points, however, to get the lead to five. Abby Vacha finished the Aggies off with a kill to end the first set.
The following two sets came down to the wire. In the second set, the two teams fought to a 22-22 tie before Shaylynn Hall (6-1, SR, middle blocker, Raleigh, N.C.) gave the Aggies a little breathing room. She scored on a kill and then teamed with Shabazz for a block assist in putting the Aggies ahead 24-22.
After a Vacha kill closed the gap, a Jada Buckhannon service error gave the Aggies the second set.
A&T again found themselves trying to hold off the Eagles as NCCU took an 18-17 lead. After Clifton called timeout, the Aggies scored four straight points. After the timeout, the Aggies scored the next five points to take a 22-18 lead. During the run, Brewer and Pitt combined for two kills apiece.
NCCU responded by scoring three consecutive points of their own before Mallory Porcher and Hall slammed down kills to put the Aggies ahead 24-21. A Lauren Janok attack error gave the Aggies the set.
In the fourth, a 6-0 spurt gave the Aggies a 14-4 lead. From there, it was all Aggies as they cruised to the 11-point win to end the set and the match.
Arlanda Faulkner led the way for the Eagles with 13 kills. Janok finished with 28 assists and 12 digs.
The Aggies host the Aggie-Spartan Invitational this Labor Day weekend. A&T starts with American Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday with another former MEAC opponent Norfolk State at 11 a.m. and crosstown rival UNC Greensboro at 7:30 p.m.
All three matches will be played at Corbett Sports Center.
