Box Score
Mitchell records 11 kills and nine digs

MONTGOMERY, Ala., September 12, 2008 – At this point, the North Carolina A&T volleyball team is suffering from what all teams who are in them midst of a losing streak struggle from – the ability to finish.

The Aggies had their opportunities on Friday to win their first match of the season, but couldn’t finish the deal at the end of sets as they lost to Alabama A&M 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 25-22) in the first day of the Alabama State Volleyball Tournament. Junior Janae Mitchell led the Aggies with 11 kills and nine digs. Freshman setter Jordan Gray finished with 35 assists and 10 digs, while Tiffany Mellette added nine kills and five digs.  

“Our efforts are getting much better,’’ said head coach Lyndsay Schmiedel. “I think if we continue to play like we played today, the wins will come. We just have to learn how to finish out sets stronger.”

N.C. A&T appeared to have the first set won on Friday. An Alabama A&M service error gave the Aggies a 21-18 lead. But the Bulldogs went on a 7-0 run to win the set. After the Aggies took an 8-5 lead in the second set, the Bulldogs took control by going on a 9-1 run that led them to the second set victory.

The offensive might of Mitchell, Mellette and Avignon Williams prevented the Aggies from being swept. Mellette and Williams had three kill apiece in the third set, while Mitchell put down four kills with a .444 hitting percentage. Mitchell had two of those kills during a 4-1 run in that gave the Aggies a 23-19 lead in the third set.

Alabama A&M’s Karensa Beckford pulled the Bulldogs to within three with a kill, but Williams and Mellette ended the set with kills to cut the Bulldogs lead to 2 sets to 1.

The fourth set saw the Bulldogs to take a 22-19 lead. A Mitchell kill and an Alabama A&M error moved the Aggies to within one. An Aggies attack error gave the Bulldogs a 23-21 lead before Gray perfectly placed an attack to slice the lead back to one. But back-to-back attack errors by the Aggies ended their opportunity to tie the match as the Bulldogs improved to 1-6 on the season.

The Aggies are back in action Saturday morning when they face Mississippi Valley State at 9 a.m. The Aggies close the tournament against host Alabama State at 3 p.m.