Box Score

GREENSBORO, October 10, 2008 – Hoping to build on the momentum it had after beating rival N.C. Central in Moore Gymnasium Tuesday night, the North Carolina A&T volleyball team decided to play in the more than 50-year old gymnasium again on Friday afternoon against conference rival Bethune-Cookman.

This time the venue couldn’t help the Aggies stop a near-flawless offensive onslaught by the Wildcats. The Wildcats committed just 10 hitting errors and recorded an impressive .343 hitting percentage to defeat the Aggies 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-18). The loss dropped the Aggies (3-17) to 0-2 in the conference and now puts them in fierce battle for the fourth and final invitation to the 2008 MEAC Tournament from the MEAC South.

Avignon Williams led the Aggies with eight kills and five blocks. Williams did not make a hitting error. Junior hitter Tiffany Mellette finished with seven kills and nine digs, and fellow hitter Janae Mitchell added five kills and 10 digs.

The Wildcats had three players reach double-figure kills led by Danielle Goodman who had 12. Chelle Ticeson and Reina Carson had 11 attacks apiece and Carson did not commit a hitting error.

“We just didn’t play with a sense of urgency today,’’ said head coach Lyndsay Schmiedel. “I didn’t see the same tenaciousness we had against Central. I know they have some fight in them, they just didn’t show it today. If we want to make the tournament, we’re going to have play with a sense of urgency.”

The Aggies came out executing well like they did against N.C. Central. The Aggies held a 21-19 lead in the first set. But Goodman and Ticeman smacked down a kill apiece to tie the game, and an Aggies error gave the Wildcats a 22-21 advantage. The Aggies tied the game on a Mellette kill. It would be the Aggies final point of the set. The Wildcats put together three straight kills to win the first set.

The Wildcats controlled the match from there. A -.062 hitting percentage in the second set by the Aggies and a .353 hitting percentage by the Wildcats in the third set helped them (6-10, 3-0) earn the victory. The Aggies will try to climb their way back into contention in the MEAC South with a win over conference power Florida A&M Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

It will not be easy. The Rattlers have won 99 straight regular-season MEAC matches. The match will take place live on ESPNU from the Aggies normal home venue – Corbett Sports Center.