TOWSON, Md. – North Carolina A&T fell to the CAA defending champs Towson in straight sets, 25-17, 14, 16, inside SECU Arena Saturday.

Naiya Sawtelle (Stuart, Fla.) led the Aggies with eight kills. Chiara Napoli (Saint-Raphael, France) led A&T with seven assists.

Towson took an early 11-3 lead in the first set, but the Aggies got to within five, 11-6, after a Sawtelle kill, an attack error by Irbe Lazda and a Maya Johnson kill. But the Aggies never got closer than six, and the Tigers would lead by as many as nine, 22-13. The Aggies did go on a 3-0 run aided by a block assist from Johnson and Napoli. However, the Tigers closed the set on a 3-1 run as a Katie McCracken service ace ended the set.

The Aggies did open a 4-1 lead on the Tigers in the second set, thanks mainly to back-to-back aces from Hannah Howell and a kill from Napoli. Townson recovered by outscoring the Aggies 15-4 to take a 16-8 lead. The Aggies got no closer than seven the rest of the way as Towson closed the set on a 3-0 run to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Towson began the final set with an 18-8 advantage. A&T put together a 5-0 run during the set to get to within seven at 23-16. But the Tigers scored the final two points to improve to 15-0 overall and 5-0 in the CAA. Fay Bakodimou led the Tigers with nine kills.