Box Score
Mellette records a career-high 22 kills

ORANGEBURG, S.C., October 19, 2008 – Coaches are always looking for ways to motivate their teams. On Sunday afternoon against S.C. State, North Carolina A&T volleyball coach Lyndsay Schmiedel must have thought she was in motivation heaven.

But not even the tremendous amount of motivation the Aggies possessed was enough as S.C. State defeated the Aggies 3-2 (24-26, 20-25, 25-23, 32-30, 15-13) in a hard-fought match that lasted more than three hours.

Junior hitter Tiffany Mellette led the Aggies with a career-high 22 kills and eight digs. Junior Janae Mitchell added nine kills and 19 digs. Freshman middle Breanna Dotstry recorded 10 blocks, and freshman setter Jordan Gray recorded a career-high 41 assists.

“This is such an emotional loss for us because of all things surrounding this match,’’ said Schmiedel.  The ladies really tried so hard to win it. I’m really proud of the way they played today. They didn’t quit. They kept fighting. They played a great match…S.C. State played a great match. It just a shame someone had to lose. And it’s shame it was us.”

There wasn’t much of a pre-game speech needed from Schmiedel. Many of her players were going against their former coach – S.C. State coach Millicent Sylvan. The Aggies realize that they are on the verge of not being invited to the MEAC tournament. Then there is the fact they are playing a S.C. State team that just ended Florida A&M’s 99-match win streak against MEAC opponents.

The Aggies jumped out to a two-set lead by winning the first two sets. Mitchell sparked those two victories with eight kills over the first two sets. The Bulldogs caught the Aggies by winning the next two sets to set up a fifth and deciding set.

The Aggies took a 12-9 lead in the fifth. But a serving error by Gray, a kill by S.C. State’s Jarne Gleaton and a ballhandling error tied the game at 12. The Bulldogs took the lead on a Shabree Roberson block. Mellette tied the game at 13 by slamming down a kill.

But the Bulldogs closed out the game with back-to-back Gleaton kills to keep the Aggies winless in conference play. The Aggies are back in action Friday night in Daytona Beach, Fla., as they take on Bethune-Cookman at 6 p.m.