North Carolina A&T Aggies (1-26, 1-4) at
N.C. Central Eagles (5-19, 3-2)
Date: Friday, October 26
Time: 7 p.m.
Facility: LeRoy T. Walker P.E. Complex
Match Preview: The Aggies will hit the road for three
crucial conference matches. If the Aggies hope to reach the MEAC Volleyball
Championships, victories are imperative. The Aggies have to finish fourth or
better in the Southern Division in order to advance to the tournament-something
they have not done since 2007. The
Aggies are currently in fifth place.
N.C. Central, Bethune-Cookman, and S.C. State are all tied in second
place with a 3-2 record. The Aggies went
to five sets against the Eagles and Wildcats and four against the Bulldogs
earlier in the season.
N.C. Central Scouting
Report: A&T is 2-11 against the Eagles, and fell
to N.C. Central at home on Sept 28 in five sets. A&T lost the final set 16-14. A&T has lost the last eight matches
against N.C. Central with its last win over the Eagles coming on Oct. 7, 2008. Entering
into Friday's game, the Eagles are 5-19 overall and 3-2 in the MEAC (T-2nd).
The Eagles are led offensively by freshman Christine Anthony who is averaging
3.59 kills per set. She had 15 kills in the Eagles' Sept. 28 win at Moore Gymnasium.
Sophomore Dayana Arrufat Rondon, who had a match-high 23 kills in the earlier
A&T/Central matchup, is averaging 3.05 kills per set. Kalin Russell has 72 blocks on the year,
including 23 solo blocks.
MEAC Rankings: The Aggies have
several athletes standing among the conference leaders. Senior middle hitter Andrea Evans is eighth
in the conference with a .258 hitting percentage. Freshman outside hitter Brooke Stamnes is
fourth in the MEAC with a 0.48 aces per set average. Freshman libero Ashley Johnson is fifth in the
conference with a 3.84 digs per set average.
NCAA Rankings: Through all games as of Oct. 21, the Aggies
ranked 13th in the nation in aces per set (1.59). Freshman Brooke Stamnes is 12th in
the country while freshman Aleena McDaniel is 73rd for aces per
set. Freshman libero Ashley Johnson is
also ranked nationally in digs per set.
