Box Score
Mitchell records seven kills and eight digs

NORFOLK October 3, 2008 – After a 10-day layoff, the North Carolina A&T volleyball team took to the court again and quickly discovered it is still coping with the same problem it had before the layoff – a lack of offensive efficiency.

The Aggies recorded 105 attacks, but those attacks bounced in-bounds just 29 times as they dropped their first conference match of the season, 3-1 (25-21, 25-17, 17-25, 25-16) to Norfolk State at Echols Hall Friday night.

The Aggies, who have not finished a match with a hitting percentage above .160 this season, managed just a .086 hitting percentage against the Spartans. Junior Janae Mitchell led the Aggies with seven kills, eight digs and three service aces. Senior Avignon Williams finished the night with five kills and four blocks, while Tiffany Mellette finished with six kills and seven digs.

After losing the first two sets, the Aggies finally found their offensive rhythm in the third set. The Aggies committed just two attack errors in the third, while slamming down 10 kills for a .308 hitting percentage. Mitchell led the way with four kills in the set.

The Aggies begin to pull away in the third set after a service error by Norfolk State’s Yolanda Roberts gave N.C. A&T a 17-15 lead. Mellette followed with a kill to give the Aggies an 18-15 advantage. After the two teams traded service errors, a Spartans attack error gave the Aggies a 20-16 lead.

Freshman setter Jordan Gray added to the lead with a kill. Back-to-back Mellette aces put the Spartans away in the third. But in the fourth set, the Aggies reverted back to their offensive struggles, producing a -.027 hitting percentage. Nine of the Aggies 20 attack errors occurred in the fourth set.

N.C. A&T hopes a little home cooking will cure its offensive woes. The Aggies will play their home opener noon Sunday against Winston-Salem State from Corbett Sports Center.