Women's Volleyball | 9/7/2021 8:28:00 PM
EAST GREENSBORO – North Carolina A&T has its first-ever Big South Conference weekly honor, and it belongs to Aggies volleyball player Naiya Sawtelle (6-foot, FR, OH, Stuart, Fla.).
On Tuesday, the Big South named Sawtelle the Big South Freshman of the Week to mark the historic occasion.
"We are very excited for Naiya to be named freshman of the week," A&T coach Hal Clifton said.
"She has put in a lot of work this preseason, and she is starting to figure some things out. She is a true 6-rotation player, and she can contribute a lot to our team both offensively and defensively."
Sawtelle averaged 2.56 kills, 2.06 digs, 0.50 blocks and 0.25 service aces in four matches last week as the Aggies posted a 2-2 record. During the Aggie-Spartan Invitational last weekend, Sawtelle averaged 2.58 kills, 2.25 digs, 0.58 blocks and 0.25 service aces in three matches.
Sawtelle recorded her third double-double with a match-high 17 kills and 17 digs in a five-setter loss to American Friday to start the tournament. She also added three blocks with a .306 hitting percentage.
During the American match, she recorded six kills on six attempts in a 25-9 first-set win and recorded six kills on 11 attempts with one error in a 25-23 second set win.
Sawtelle recorded four kills, nine digs, three blocks and a service ace in a 3-0 win over Norfolk State Saturday and followed up with 10 kills, a block and a dig in the nightcap against UNC Greensboro.
Before the tournament, Sawtelle recorded 10 kills, six digs, one solo block and a service ace against former Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) opponent N.C. Central Tuesday in Durham, N.C.
Sawtelle is tied for seventh in the conference in kills per set (3.00) and ranks fifth in points per set (3.67). She has recorded 88.0 points, which is the second-most in the conference and ranks 97th in the nation.
The Aggies are back in action this weekend, co-hosting the Aggie-Phoenix Tournament. A&T starts with hosting NCCU Friday at 6 p.m. and travels to Elon, N.C., to face Mercer Saturday at noon.
