NEW HAVEN, Del. – North Carolina A&T had its troubles offensively on Sunday but found a way to stay close against one of the best volleyball teams in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). Despite the Aggies' determination, the Delaware Blue Hens won in three sets at the Bob Carpenter Center (25-21, 12, 21).
The Blue Hens delivered a significant blow to the Aggies' postseason hopes as A&T dropped to 8-16 overall and 6-10 in CAA play. Eight teams qualify for the CAA Volleyball Championship Tournament, Nov. 16-18, at TU Arena on the campus of Towson University. The 2023 schedule did not do any favors to an Aggies team trying to earn a berth. A&T's final three opponents this season – Towson, Delaware and Campbell – have already qualified for the tournament.
After going a combined 0-4 against Towson and Delaware, the Aggies close the regular season with two matches against Campbell at Moore Gymnasium, Nov. 11-12, starting at 2 p.m. The Aggies are in 10th place. Meanwhile, the Blue Hens improved to 20-4 overall and 13-3 in league play.
A&T, unfortunately, had one of its worst hitting performances of the season, posting a negative-.022 percentage for the match. The Aggies hit .182 in the first set compared to Delaware's .286. Yet, when freshman Kaili Doctor took a pass from Chiara Napoli and scored on a kill, the Aggies took a 19-17 first-set lead.
But the Blue Hens outscored the Aggies 5-1 from that point to take a 22-20 lead. After a Blue Hens service error got the Aggies to within one, the Blue Hens ended the set with three straight points to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Aggies hit negative .148 in the second set and had to endure a 10-0 Delaware run as the Blue Hens took the second set behind three blocks from Gha'Naye Whitfield-Moss.
"We couldn't generate any offense today," said A&T head coach Hal Clifton. "We competed well and had good energy from the bench. For us to hit like that and still be in contention for sets one and three is a testament to our grit."
A&T hit negative .129 in the third set, but when Morgan Allen scored on a service ace, the Aggies were down only two, 15-13. But Delaware responded with three straight points to take a five-point lead. Later in the set, the Aggies pulled to within four, 22-18, on a Laurel Rogers ace.
Rogers followed with a service error, but a block assist from Naiya Sawtelle and Madison Sanabria and an attack error from Delaware's Savannah Seemans got the Aggies to within three at 23-20. Seemans gave the Blue Hens set and match point with a kill before a Delaware ball handling error kept the match going. Delaware completed the sweep, however, on a Seemans kill.
"Delaware is a very talented and senior-laden team," said Clifton. "They force you to make mistakes, and they don't make many. We will turn our eyes to Campbell and senior weekend."
Doctor led the Aggies with seven kills. Sanabria posted four blocks, and freshman Samaya Wesson and Sawtelle added three blocks apiece. Lani Mason and Madelyn Grunza had 10 kills apiece for the Blue Hens.
