Towson Volleyball Falls to North Carolina A&T in Straight Sets, Splits CAA Road Series
By Brian Hradsky
Final: North Carolina A&T 3, Towson 0 (25-18, 25-22, 30-28)
The Towson University women’s volleyball team suffered a disappointing three-set loss to North Carolina A&T on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Moore Gymnasium in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Tigers battled throughout the afternoon but could not overcome an aggressive Aggies offense, falling 25-18, 25-22 and 30-28 in Coastal Athletic Association action. The defeat dropped Towson to 14-8 overall and 7-5 in conference play, while North Carolina A&T improved to 10-13 overall and 5-7 in the CAA. The loss prevented Towson from completing a two-match road sweep.
The result came just one day after Towson defeated the Aggies in four sets, giving the Tigers a split of their conference series. Thursday’s victory demonstrated Towson’s offensive potential, but Friday’s rematch exposed inconsistencies that ultimately prevented the Tigers from completing the sweep. North Carolina A&T capitalized on its opportunities and delivered several crucial plays during the closing stages of the match. The Tigers now must regroup as they prepare for the final stretch of their conference schedule.
North Carolina A&T Takes Control Early
Towson opened the first set with a promising 3-0 advantage, showing the energy needed to challenge the home team. However, North Carolina A&T quickly responded by scoring 10 of the next 13 points and establishing control of the opening frame. The Aggies later produced a decisive 9-2 run, allowing them to pull away for a 25-18 victory. Towson struggled to contain the Aggies’ attack, which produced 16 kills and a .289 hitting percentage in the set.
The second set followed a similar pattern, although Towson managed to remain within striking distance. After the teams battled to a 2-2 tie, North Carolina A&T moved ahead and never surrendered its advantage. The Aggies recorded 14 kills with a .357 hitting percentage, while Towson committed eight attacking errors and hit just .143. North Carolina A&T secured the set 25-22, leaving the Tigers facing a two-set deficit.
Towson Battles in Dramatic Third Set
Facing elimination, Towson delivered its strongest offensive performance of the afternoon in the third set. The Tigers registered 17 kills and improved their hitting percentage to .295, demonstrating the offensive efficiency that had been missing earlier in the match. Both teams exchanged important points as the set moved beyond the traditional 25-point finish. Towson created opportunities to extend the contest but could not deliver the decisive finishing play.
The Tigers briefly moved ahead 26-25, putting themselves one point away from forcing a fourth set. North Carolina A&T responded with consecutive kills from Agata Zwierzynska and Zariah Winton, reclaiming the advantage before Towson answered again. Malinah Purcell-Telefoni and Anna Rice contributed important kills during the closing exchanges, keeping the Tigers alive. Ultimately, the Aggies finished the set 30-28 with a block from Nicole Ellis and Kirsten Kemper, completing the straight-set victory.
The third set illustrated both Towson’s resilience and its difficulty closing out critical opportunities. Despite trailing by two sets, the Tigers continued to compete and forced North Carolina A&T into an extended battle. However, the Aggies executed more effectively during the decisive points. Those late-set situations will provide valuable lessons for Towson as the postseason approaches.
Taylor Pagan Leads Towson’s Offense
Taylor Pagan paced Towson with 10 kills, finishing as the only Tiger to reach double figures in the category. Towson totaled 40 kills and a .226 hitting percentage, compared with North Carolina A&T’s 47 kills and .252 hitting percentage. The Tigers also recorded five service aces, six blocks, 37 assists and 33 digs. Those numbers reflected a competitive effort, but the Aggies held advantages in several important statistical categories.
North Carolina A&T’s Agata Zwierzynska led all players with 14 kills, while Zariah Winton added 11. Kirsten Kemper controlled the Aggies’ offense with 37 assists and also contributed 10 digs for a double-double. Luca Radnai delivered an especially efficient performance with eight kills and a .700 hitting percentage. The Aggies finished with 42 digs, helping them maintain rallies and create additional offensive opportunities.
Towson’s offense demonstrated flashes of effectiveness, particularly during the third set, but the Tigers struggled to sustain that production throughout the match. The difference in attacking efficiency played a significant role in determining the outcome. North Carolina A&T consistently found ways to generate points during extended rallies and capitalize on Towson’s mistakes. Improving offensive balance will be essential for the Tigers during their remaining conference matches.
A Tale of Two Matches in Greensboro
Towson’s performance on Thursday illustrated how dangerous the Tigers can be when their offense operates efficiently. In that contest, Towson defeated North Carolina A&T 25-22, 25-16, 20-25 and 25-18, producing 52 kills and a .294 hitting percentage. Pagan led the Tigers with 15 kills, while Anna Rice added 10. The Tigers also recorded eight blocks and 47 digs during the four-set victory.
Friday’s rematch presented a different challenge, as North Carolina A&T improved its offensive execution and prevented Towson from establishing sustained momentum. The Tigers’ hitting percentage dropped from .294 on Thursday to .226 on Friday, while their total kills declined from 52 to 40 across one fewer set. North Carolina A&T also improved its hitting percentage from .155 to .252 between the two matches. The contrast highlighted the importance of maintaining offensive consistency throughout a demanding conference schedule.
The split demonstrated the competitive nature of the CAA, where adjustments between consecutive matches can dramatically change the outcome. Towson successfully controlled important stretches of Thursday’s meeting but struggled to replicate that performance in the rematch. North Carolina A&T deserves credit for responding to its opening defeat with a more efficient offensive approach. The Tigers will need to make similar adjustments when they face difficult opponents later in the season.
CAA Tournament Implications
The loss left Towson with a 7-5 conference record as the regular season entered its final stretch. Every remaining match carried significance for the Tigers’ position in the CAA standings and their potential postseason seeding. Towson remained in a competitive position, but the defeat represented a missed opportunity to strengthen its standing against a conference opponent. The Tigers will need to regain their offensive rhythm and improve their consistency to finish the season strongly.
For North Carolina A&T, Friday’s victory provided an important boost to its postseason aspirations. The Aggies entered the match battling for one of the six available spots in the CAA Volleyball Championship, scheduled for November 19-21 at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Their victory over Towson moved them to 5-7 in conference play and kept them involved in the tournament race. The result also demonstrated that the Aggies could compete successfully against teams positioned above them in the conference standings.
Towson has established a successful volleyball tradition and entered the season with expectations of competing for another conference championship. Maintaining that standard requires consistency against every opponent, regardless of its record. The Tigers have demonstrated the talent necessary to challenge strong conference competition, but Friday’s performance showed areas requiring improvement. Their response over the coming weeks will help determine their postseason outlook.
Towson Returns Home to Face Hofstra
Towson’s next scheduled challenge is a two-match home series against Hofstra at SECU Arena. The Tigers will face the Pride on Friday, November 6, at 5 p.m., followed by another meeting Saturday, November 7, at 3 p.m. Towson will also recognize its senior class before Saturday’s match, adding significance to the final home weekend of the regular season. The series provides an opportunity for the Tigers to respond to Friday’s defeat and build momentum toward postseason competition.
Playing at home should provide Towson with an opportunity to reestablish its offensive rhythm and build confidence. The Tigers must emphasize efficient attacking, improved defensive communication and stronger execution during critical points. Their ability to close out competitive sets could determine the outcome of the Hofstra series. A successful weekend would help Towson regain momentum before the CAA Championship.
MSB Take: Towson Must Find Consistency Before the Postseason
Towson’s loss to North Carolina A&T should serve as a reminder that no conference opponent can be overlooked during the closing weeks of the regular season. The Tigers demonstrated their capabilities with Thursday’s four-set victory, but Friday’s performance showed how quickly momentum can shift when offensive execution declines. The inability to finish the third set was particularly frustrating because Towson had an opportunity to extend the match. Converting those late-set chances will become increasingly important as the postseason approaches.
The encouraging development was Towson’s improved attacking performance in the final set, which showed that the Tigers could adjust against a difficult opponent. However, Towson cannot afford to wait until the third set to establish that level of offensive efficiency. Stronger starts, fewer attacking errors and better defensive positioning should be priorities heading into the Hofstra series. With postseason volleyball approaching, the Tigers have an opportunity to turn this disappointing result into motivation for a strong finish.
Towson remains capable of making a meaningful postseason run, but consistency will determine how far the Tigers advance. The team has demonstrated that it can compete effectively when its offense and defense operate together. Friday’s defeat exposed weaknesses that opponents could exploit during the conference tournament. The Tigers must use the remaining regular-season matches to address those concerns and enter postseason play with renewed confidence.
Sources:
Towson University Athletics: https://towsontigers.com/news/2026/10/30/womens-volleyball-towson-volleyball-falls-to-north-carolina-a-t.aspx
North Carolina A&T Athletics: https://ncataggies.com/news/2026/10/30/womens-volleyball-a-t-secures-key-3-0-win-over-towson.aspx
Maryland Sports Blog — Maryland Sports. All the Time.
www.marylandsportsblog.com
