GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG moved a step closer to the tournament championship Saturday morning as the Blue and Gold downed North Carolina A&T 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-11) across town at the Aggies' Moore Gymnasium. The Spartans improve to 8-2 overall – their best start to a season since 2010 – and have won five-straight matches while N.C. A&T falls to 1-5.

 The UNCG offense continued to fire on all cylinders as the Spartans hit .337 in the match off of 47 kills on 95 attempts with 15 errors. UNCG limited the Aggies to a .098 clip while North Carolina A&T was only able to muster 27 kills and made 18 errors in 92 swings. The Spartans also held the upper hand in digs (45-30), aces (4-2) and total blocks (6.0 to 5.0). UNCG's hitting percentages by set improved throughout the match going from .200 to .429 and slightly back to .348.

Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Muench was the only player in double figures offensively on either side as she put down 18 kills and hit .556 (18k/3e/27ta). Junior outside hitter Alexis Mourier also turned in a solid performance of eight kills and a .500 hitting percentage. On the back row, senior defensive specialist Katherine Santiago racked up a match-high 15 digs.

The Aggies were fast out of the gate in the first set and took a 7-2 lead after a Spartan attacking error. UNCG fought back to within 7-6 but A&T pushed out to an 11-7 advantage and forced the Blue and Gold to burn a timeout. The Spartans found their legs from that point and went on an 8-2 run capped off by a Mourier kill to move in front 15-13. UNCG led by as much as 19-15 later on in the frame but the Aggie scrapped all the way back to tie the score at 22. The Spartans would have the last say as two kills and an A&T attacking error gave the Blue and Gold the set by three points.

A kill by Mourier saw UNCG in front 6-3 as the second stanza commenced but three-straight Aggie points tied the set at six. The Spartans stood their ground and A&T was forced to use a timeout after Muench put down three-straight kills to give her team a 12-10 cushion. It was all UNCG after that as the Spartans took leads of 19-12 and 23-15 before closing out the frame 25-17 to take a 2-0 lead into intermission.

After a close beginning to the third set, the Blue and Gold asserted itself and took full control. With UNCG leading 6-5, the Spartans scored six of the next seven points to assume a 12-6 edge and prompt an Aggie timeout. All told, the Blue and Gold ripped off a 9-0 run to make the score and insurmountable 17-6. UNCG reached match point at 24-11 before a North Carolina A&T attacking error ended the contest.

The Spartans return to Fleming Gymnasium this evening for a 7 p.m. appointment with Alabama State. If UNCG wins the match it will take the Spartan-Aggie Invitational title for the second-straight season.