Aggies Volleyball Team Earns First Postseason Bid in School History

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Dec. 4, 2019) – The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University volleyball team is continuing a history-making season by receiving their first-ever bid to participate in postseason play.

Led by Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Coach of the Year Hal Clifton, the Aggies (16-14) are set to face Troy University (22-9) in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) at 4 p.m. Friday at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

“This is a big step forward for our program,” Clifton said. “It's a testament to the work and effort the team has put into this year.”

Clifton guided the Aggies to the Southern Division regular-season title for the first time since 1998, with 13 conference wins setting a school record and .929 winning percentage as second-best in school history. For three consecutive seasons, the Aggies have had a .500 or better record.

This year’s team features MEAC Co-Player of the Year Edie Brewer, setter/right side, who was named MEAC Co-Player of the Year as second in the nation with seven triple-doubles this season. With one season of eligibility remaining, she is fourth all-time in school history in assists, seventh in digs, seventh in service aces and eighth in blocks.

N.C. A&T’s Courteney Pitt, an outside hitter, joined fellow junior Brewer on the All-MEAC First Team. Pitt is fourth all-time in N.C. A&T history in kills with 928 with one year of eligibility remaining.

Nine Aggies also were named as MEAC Volleyball All-Academic Selections for 2019: Brewer, senior middle hitter Makaylah Elliott, junior defensive specialist Kaiyah Haley, sophomore middle hitter Shaylynn Hall, senior outside hitter Leila Haynesworth, sophomore defensive specialist Andrea Laboy-Rivera, junior defensive specialist Milanna Morgan, sophomore right side Macenzie Richards and redshirt sophomore right side/middle hitter Fatimah Shabazz.

The NIVC, in its third year after a 12-year hiatus, is a single-elimination tournament of 32 teams. The first two rounds are Dec. 5-7, the third round Dec. 9-12, the semifinals Dec. 13-15 and the championship Dec. 16, 17 or 18.

If they beat Troy, the Aggies will play again at 7 p.m. Friday against the winner of the match between Georgia Tech and Alabama A&M.

“I'm really proud of the team and the way they have competed throughout the season,” Clifton said. “We are certainly excited to represent our beloved school on a national stage against other top-level volleyball programs.”