Oct. 27, 2006

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Arlene Mitchell posted a match-high 20 kills and 11 digs to lead visiting North Carolina A&T State University to a decisive 3-0 victory over Bethune-Cookman College at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla. The match victory consisted of scores with 30-26, 30-17 and 30-27 in the sweep of B-CC.

Bethune-Cookman (7-10, 4-4 MEAC) just had no answer for Arlene Mitchell tonight, a powerful outside hitter that serves as one-half of the Twin Assassins for the Aggies, as sister Darlene Mitchell also sees plenty of playing time on the outside.

The Aggies of N.C. A&T (14-9, 5-3 MEAC) and B-CC looked great in the first game as excitement built with few errors as each team combined for 32 kills and just five (5) errors. The Aggies used five kills from Arlene Mitchell and two from setter Brenden Chatman to come back from a 23-21 deficit late in the game. The Wildcats ran out to a 14-8 advantage when Danielle Goodrum spiked down a kill from the left side.

The `Cats could not claw back in the end as Arlene Mitchell blasted a hammer from the right side that slipped past the defense of B-CC. This was the beginning of the `Cats decline from a competitive standpoint.

N.C. A&T jumped out to a quick 10-4 lead in the second game ... one that was not to be relinquished. The Aggies hit a whopping 15 kills in just 29 attacks in the second game, assisted by four B-CC errors, including three service errors. The hero of the second game, if you will, was Aundia Gray with three of her four kills, as well as the defense of Chatman and Arlene Mitchell. Combined, the two players racked up 11 digs in the game.

The third game was once again a rejuvenated contest as the crowd of 132 inside a boisterous Moore Gymnasium seemed to rattle the visiting Aggies down the stretch as a once spacious lead (21-15) was trimmed to 26-23 following a kill by Terra Wagner. A timeout by North Carolina A&T was not enough, as the Aggies were forced into a second timeout following a 28-26 comeback spectacle by the homestanding Wildcats when Chelle Ticeson smashed a kill over the net on a Gray attack on an Aggies miscue for offense.

N.C. A&T head coach Millicent Sylvan warned her team to stay focused as they approached the court following the timeout ... and awaken they did. The Aggie Pride spirit that loomed on the visiting sideline with the help of the North Carolina A&T cheerleaders was not to be denied as the Aggies closed out the final two points for the win.

North Carolina A&T was led by the star of the match in Arlene Mitchell with 20 kills and 11 digs, while teammates Darlene Mitchell and Nyra Taborn each pitched in with eight kills each. The defense was sparked by libero Lauren Walker with a match-high 18 digs, and the offense was set up by Chatman with a match-high 40 assists.

Meanwhile, for Bethune-Cookman, the offense was directed by Goodrum with a team-high 10 kills and 12 digs--leading to her seventh double-double (kills / digs) performance of the campaign. Assisting Goodrum was one of the Fabulous Freshmen Foursome with Tabatha Williams leading the charge with nine kills and three blocks (assisted). Also helping out the cause was Wagner with eight kills and five digs. The defense was carried by a host of `Cats as Goodrum and libero Ariane Guy each had 12 digs.

The Wildcats will now take a week off before venturing back into conference play as they host rival Florida A&M on Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. inside Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach. That will be the second of six consecutive home matches to end the regular season for the `Cats.