Women's Volleyball | 8/22/2026 6:30:00 PM

• A&T volleyball defeated Fayetteville State in three sets on Saturday in an exhibition match that will serve as the Aggies' final tune-up before the 2026 season begins on Friday in Charlotte.
• CAA head coaches predicted the Aggies to finish fourth in the conference in 2026 after the Aggies advanced in the CAA tournament a year ago.
• Tyne Ross, a two-time first-team All-CAA selection and a former CAA Rookie of the Year, made the preseason first team.

GREENSBORO – North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State volleyball finished preseason preparation with a sweep of Fayetteville State on Saturday afternoon at Moore Gymnasium.

Now, the Aggies head into the 2026 season and, eventually, Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play with their highest expectations since joining the CAA in 2023. CAA head coaches predicted the Aggies to finish fourth, behind preseason favorite College of Charleston, Hofstra and Towson.

The Cougars received 95 points and five first-place votes, followed by the Pride's 87 points and four first-place votes. The Tigers received two first-place votes, and A&T received 67 points. Reigning CAA champion Campbell rounded out the top five.

A&T junior Tyne Ross made preseason first-team All-CAA. Ross captured the 2024 CAA Rookie of the Year and was a strong contender for last season's CAA Player of the Year honor before Hofstra's Izadora Stedile claimed the award. Another Hofstra player, Beatriz Braga, is the 2026 CAA Preseason Player of the Year. A&T sophomore Zariah Winton earned honorable mention preseason All-CAA recognition.

"We are very happy for Tyne to be named to the 2026 CAA preseason all-conference team," said A&T head coach Hal Clifton. "I think the body of work she has put in the past two seasons has been respected by the coaches.  She had a terrific sophomore year and led the conference in points per set as well as kills per set pretty much the entire conference season.  She is determined to improve on what she has been doing.

We would also like to congratulate Zariah for being named honorable mention. After completing her freshman season the way she did, it's nice that other coaches recognized her."

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Ross led the CAA in kills (4.39) and points per set (4.79) while also leading the league in attacks per set (11.79). She topped the conference in total kills (457), total points (498.0), and total attacks (1,226). Ross ranked among the top-50 players in the country in attacks per set (23^rd), kills per set (29^th), points per set (39^th), total kills (43^rd), and total attacks (46^th).

Ross is a two-time first-team All-CAA performer who needs 118 kills to reach 1,000 for her career. She could become the fastest player in program history to reach that mark. North Carolina A&T Sports Hall of Famer Arlene Mitchell did it in 276 sets played, and Ross has played 202 sets entering the 2026 season.

Meanwhile, Winton made the CAA's All-Rookie team in 2025 after finishing tied for second on the team in kills per set (2.50). She was also second on the team in points per set (2.98). She posted a season-high 20 kills in a four-set win over UNC Asheville on Sept. 20 and had 19 kills in a five-set win over Elon on Oct. 24.

In addition to Ross and Winton, the Aggies return an outstanding roster. It includes two seniors, middle blocker Mikala Sampson and libero/defensive specialist Valeria Estrada. Sampson's breakout season in 2025 helped the Aggies post a 10-6 CAA mark. The Aggies finished fifth in the CAA and earned a berth into the conference tournament, where they secured the program's first-ever CAA tournament win by beating Charleston in three sets at Towson University's SECU Arena.

Sampson posted 2.50 kills per set and 2.68 points per set. Estrada enters the season with 722 digs, 1,105 service receptions, 76 aces and 151 assists while holding a .936 career reception percentage. The Aggies also return sophomore middle blockers Nicole Ellis and Daja Warren and junior middle blocker Luca Radnai.

Versatile talent Charlie Meadoweal can help the Aggies at setter and in the back row, while Cam Scott returns as a right-side hitter. The Aggies will miss All-CAA setter Leonor Pelozzi, who transferred to DePaul, but they signed freshman setter Kirsten Kemper during the offseason. They also brought in other newcomers to Aggieland during the offseason.

The Aggies played two exhibition matches during the preseason: a five-set loss at Norfolk State and the win over Fayetteville State on Saturday. Ross led the Aggies with 11 kills and a .391 hitting percentage Saturday versus the Broncos.

A&T's season opener is 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 against Appalachian State in the Charlotte Invitational hosted by Charlotte at Halton Arena. Conference play starts for the Aggies on Friday, Sept. 25 at Northeastern University.

It could be an interesting opening to the season for A&T volleyball. Clifton needs only five wins to become the program's all-time winningest coach.

"I don't expect the conference to be any different than last year, except maybe even tougher," Clifton said. "The CAA is a tough, competitive conference where you have to show up every night and compete. You never know which match could cost you a spot in the tournament. Last year the top five were only separated by three matches or less. I'm honored that we have been voted fourth, but I also know that comes with a lot of responsibility.  We might be the oldest we've been since 2021, so I'm excited to see how the upperclassmen's experience and maturity will play out."