DURHAM, NC – Sophomore slump? Not for these Aggies.
The North Carolina A&T volleyball team defeated North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in three sets (25-21, 26-24, 25-22) on Saturday at McDougald-McLendon Arena behind a slate of solid performances from sophomores Mikala Sampson, Leonor Polezzi, Valeria Estrada, who have stepped into more prominent roles this season.
The sweep didn't come easy, though. After defeating longtime rival and fellow HBCU, the NCCU Eagles, in three sets the day prior, the Aggies faced a more aggressive Eagles offense in the finale of the home-and-home series. The match was competitive from the first serve.
"We always want to play each other because of what (we) saw tonight," head coach Hal Clifton said. "It's a competitive match. Records don't matter. It's just woman against woman."
After a contested 'out' call on NCCU was overturned to tie the opening set 3-3, two straight kills from Kayden Cupid and Emmie Modlin had the Eagles in control. A&T played behind for a while until Sampson turned the tide with a series of kills and blocks to give A&T a 12-10 lead.
The six-footer from Houston thrives at the net from the middle blocker and right side positions. She played sparingly last year but started both matches this season. On Saturday, Sampson posted nine kills and two solo blocks in A&T's win.
"She came into the preseason with a whole new arm swing, and she's been taking direction really, really well," Clifton said.
After that sequence, A&T played with renewed vigor and overcame a late push from NCCU to win the first set 25-21. A decisive kill from freshman outside hitter Tyne Ross delivered the final point.
The two teams played just as competitively in the second set, and NCCU snuck ahead after the Aggies committed several attack errors. Clifton called a timeout after NCCU captured a 12-10 advantage, and his team appeared to regain its composure after the break in action.
The set remained a back-and-forth affair, but an Eagle service error and two successive solo blocks from senior Madison Sanabria gave A&T a 23-20 lead. However, it wouldn't last as the Eagles tied the contest at 24 behind kills from Modlin and outside hitter Makenzie Searcy.
A&T eventually won the set 26-24 thanks to a kill from Ross and a service ace from sophomore libero Estrada.
Polezzi had some impressive moments in that set, most notably a smooth setter dump that faked out the Eagles defense and earned a critical point for A&T. The second-year player from Italy slotted in as the team's starter after A&T lost Chiara Napoli to the transfer portal. Polezzi secured her first career double-double with 31 assists and 10 digs.
"She's a kid with such international experience and composure and play that brings a whole different level to the game," Clifton said. "She understands the game at a level that a sophomore typically doesn't."
The Eagles, determined not to be swept on their home court, continued to bring the fight in the third set. Cheers from the NCCU faithful filled McDougald-McLendon Arena after Clifton called another timeout following three successive kills from Eagles outside hitter Kameron Harper put her team ahead 15-11.
A&T tied the set at 20 after consecutive attack errors from Eagles hitters. Sampson then scored her team's next three points with powerful kills. Another NCCU attack error and a final kill from Ross secured the sweep. Ross followed up the best rookie debut in program history, with a 14-kill performance that included eight digs and a solo block. Meanwhile, A&T has its first 2-0 start in six years, which might add a boost of confidence considering the Aggies were picked to finish 11th out of 12 teams in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) this year.
"It's always good to be the underdog," Clifton said. "A couple of players transferred out, but we have a good core group that came in and we have a good, solid group of seniors and underclassmen to lead this team. It's just a matter of putting it together."
Estrada tied her career-high with 15 digs. Searcy led the Eagles with 15 kills, and Harper added 14 kills.
The Aggies will continue its season in Greenville, N.C., next week, where it will play in a four-team invitational against East Carolina, Western Carolina, and Texas A&M University-Commerce.
The match against East Carolina, scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m., will be broadcast on ESPN+.
