BOONE, NC – Roughly 120 miles from the North Carolina A&T State University campus in Greensboro, the Aggies volleyball team had a historic afternoon against its crosstown rival UNC Greensboro on Friday during the second day of the Appalachian State Black and Gold Classic at Holmes Convocation Center. 

The Aggies swept the Spartans in three (25-17, 29-27, 25-9) to snap a four-match losing streak as they improved to 2-5. Friday's win marked the first time in the 39-match series history against UNCG that the Aggies defeated the Spartans (0-7) in three straight sets. The Aggies did beat UNCG 2-0 in 1985. A&T's win also marked its second straight over its Gate City neighbor.   

"I'm very happy about the win today," said A&T head coach Hal Clifton. "I thought we came out with good energy and focus."

The Aggies dominated at the net in the first set. They blocked the Spartans four times, and A&T's middle and right-side hitters combined for eight kills and a .455 hitting percentage. UNCG hit minus-.048 for the set to help the Aggies cause. 

A&T took a commanding 18-9 lead in the set after a Naiya Sawtelle solo block. UNCG scored the next four points before the Aggies retook control on a 4-0 capped by a Chiara Napoli and Maya Johnson block assist. The Aggies put the set away with back-to-back kills from Hannah Howell and Madison Sanabria. 

There was a much tougher go of it in the second set for A&T. The Aggies took a 21-19 lead before UNCG scored the next two points on a service error and a kill to tie the set at 21, forcing an A&T timeout. A ballhandling error by Napoli gave UNCG a 23-22 lead. But a Sawtelle kill followed by Liselotte Spoormakers' kill gave the Aggies set point at 24-23. 

UNCG fought off set point with an Aylin Baran kill. After a Howell attack error, the Aggies had to fight off set point with a Sawtelle kill to tie the set at 26. UNCG survived set point after a Sawtelle service error made it a 27-27 set. The Aggies finished off their 3-0 run to close the set on a Howell kill and a Napoli kill. 

"We became high error in the second set, and UNCG took advantage," said Clifton. "I'm really proud of how we maintained our composure and held off set point and then put a string of three points together to claim the set."

Sawtelle dominated the third set to finish off the Spartans, finishing with eight kills, complemented by five from Spoormakers. The Aggies hit .389 in the set compared to the Spartans' .167 hitting percentage. 

"We did a nice job controlling the third set from the end line and had the opportunity to go on a couple of mini runs and finish out the match."

Spoormakers ended the match with nine kills and a .692 hitting percentage. Sawtelle finished with a match-high 11 kills to go along with six digs. Sanabria had five kills and three blocks, and Johnson had five kills and five blocks. Napoli had another strong match as the Aggies setter. For the second time this season, she set a career-high in a three-set match with 27 assists. 

She also had four kills, two aces, seven digs, four blocks and a .800 hitting percentage. Baran led the Spartans with nine kills.