Box Score vs. Rider     Box Score vs. William & Mary

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., -- Vast improvement was shown by the North Carolina A&T volleyball team on Saturday, but the Aggies still dropped two matches at the Tribe Invitational played at William and Mary. Rider defeated the Aggies 3-0 (25-17, 18, 20) and host William and Mary won 3-0 (25-14, 19, 10) over the Aggies.

In the morning match, a more aggressive Aggies team recorded 102 attacks, but they were only able to put down 25 kills. Bridget McCaskill’s 10 kills marked the first time in her career she has recorded double-figure kills. Stacey Malone had 15 digs and Janae Mitchell added 10 digs.

In the first two sets, the Aggies lost steam midway through. The Aggies took a 13-11 lead in the first set thanks to a block from LaShawn White and a kill from McCaskill. Rider would score the next three points before a Tiffany Mellette kill tied the set at 14. But a 9-2 run fueled by four Kristy Love kills helped Rider pull away.

The following set saw the Broncos make a bad set and three straight attack errors to assists the Aggies during a 4-0 run that saw N.C. A&T take a 15-14 lead. After a Broncos timeout, the Aggies continued to fight as a Bree Dotstry kill gave N.C. A&T a 17-16 lead. But the Broncos scored the next six points to take control of the set. In the third set, the Broncos took a 15-9 lead and were never seriously threatened the rest of the way.

In the match against the Tribe, Mitchell had five kills and Mellette and Malone had 12 digs apiece. Mellette was named to the all-tournament team. The Aggies are back in action 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4 when they take on Georgia State in the Georgia State Tournament.