GREENVILLE, NC – North Carolina A&T recovered nicely from its first volleyball loss of the season to defeat the Western Carolina Catamounts in four sets (25-21, 24-26, 25-19, 25-22) on Friday during the second day of the East Carolina Invitational at Minges Coliseum on the campus of East Carolina University (ECU).
A&T lost to host ECU on Thursday in three sets, but thanks to Hannah Howell's 15 kills and career-high 22 digs, the Aggies improved to 3-1. Howell recorded her first double-double since November 12, 2022. Western Carolina dropped to 0-4 as Ali Morris finished with 15 kills and 12 digs.
"I'm really proud of how the team responded to last night's loss with a win today," said A&T head coach Hal Clifton. "We used a lot of combinations, and the team followed the gameplan and in-match changes to lead us to a victory. It was a solid effort all the way around."
A&T led 2-1 going into the fourth set, but the Catamounts looked poised to extend the match to five sets as they took a 21-18 lead on a Sarah Janourova kill. Ross responded with a kill and an attack error by the Catamounts closed the Aggies' deficit to one, forcing a timeout from Western Carolina.
A service error from A&T freshman Charlie Meadoweal gave the Catamounts a two-point advantage, but Western Carolina's Peri Subat returned the favor and Meadoweal slammed down a kill to tie the set at 22-22. Western Carolina committed another attack error to give the Aggies the lead, and Howell finished them with back-to-back kills to secure the win.
The Aggies had an excellent offensive night, producing a hitting percentage of .220, including a .308 hitting percentage in the fourth and deciding set. Sophomore setter Leonor Pelozzi took command of A&T's offense, posting 52 assists. Pelozzi's 52 assists are tied for the fourth most in a match in program history. It is tied for the third most in a four-set match.
In addition, Pelozzi posted 19 digs to secure her second double-double of the season. Meanwhile, Tyne Ross, the reigning Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) rookie of the week, had another terrific outing, posting a match-high 21 kills. She also had six digs and two total blocks. She has reached double-figure kills in every match she has played this season.
Senior Maya Johnson matched a career-high with 11 kills to go along with her two solo blocks. It was also a career day for sophomore Valeria Estrada, who finished with a career-high 27 digs.
A&T got off to a good start as back-to-back kills from Johnson and a kill from Ross gave the Aggies a 22-19 lead in the first set. The Catamounts never got any closer than two from that point on in the set as A&T reached set point at 24-21 on a Howell kill. Howell gave the Aggies a 1-0 lead with another kill to end the set.
The Aggies led 23-20 in the second set before the Catamounts ended the set on a 6-1 to tie the match at 1-1. But A&T took control of the match in the third, jumping out to a 17-12 lead. Western Carolina scored the next three points to cut A&T's lead to two, but A&T regained its five-point advantage, 23-18, on a block assist from senior Madison Sanabria and Ross.
After a Morris kill pulled the Catamounts to within four, the Catamounts gave the Aggies set point on a service error. Ross gave the Aggies their 2-1 advantage going into the fourth with a kill. A&T's final invitational match will be played Saturday at 11 a.m., against Texas A&M – Commerce.
