Administration | 2/24/2022 11:59:00 AM
By Jaydn James, student intern
EAST GREENSBORO -- North Carolina A&T State University and Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Commissioner Joseph D'Antonio. Wednesday to answer questions concerning the Aggies transition into the CAA.
N.C. A&T student-athletes also attended the event and had thoughts about the athletics department's latest move.
In February of 2020, N.C. A&T announced its departure from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) after 50 years of membership to the Big South Conference in July of 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic that followed made the Aggies final year in the MEAC anti-climactic.
There was no fall 2020 football season or men's and women's cross country season. In addition, volleyball did not play until the spring, the men's and women's indoor MEAC championships got canceled, and all other varsity sports held abbreviated seasons.
Despite the unusual sports seasons, the Aggies still want MEAC titles in volleyball, women's basketball, bowling, men's and women's outdoor track and field, and men's basketball and softball won regular-season MEAC divisional titles.
The Aggies are still heavily involved in their first Big South season. Volleyball had a good fall in the Big South, winning 20 matches overall and finishing 11-5 in conference play. Mallory Porcher, a rising senior and N.C. A&T's volleyball middle blocker says that she was not surprised by this move since they switched over from the MEAC to the Big South last year.
"It's just going to be another adjustment for us and something else we'll have to get used to," she said.
Rising sophomore Naiya Sawtelle, an outside hitter for the volleyball team, says she is excited about the move.
"It's going to be a challenge for us to see how we step up to the plate for the new conference," Sawtelle said. "I think it's a good fit for us, and we can excel once we get focused and start competing in it. So we're looking forward to it."
Chancellor Martin ended the press conference by sending gratitude towards the Big South.
"I do want to say publicly a very special note of appreciation to the Big South Conference," said Martin. "Albeit short as a tenure, we've appreciated how warmly welcomed we were made to be a part of the Big South Conference."
A&T will be competing in the conference for the first time in July of 2022, excluding football and bowling. Bowling will remain in the MEAC, and football will switch over in July 2023 to guarantee the Big South keeps its automatic qualifier to the FCS playoffs.
