CHARLOTTE, NC - The Bryant University women's volleyball team was topped by North Carolina A&T, 3-1, in its second match of the Charlotte Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 29 at Halton Arena.  

The Bulldogs (0-2) tied the Aggies (2-0) at 1-1 after capturing the second set. NC A&T responded by winning the final two sets in a back-and-forth contest that saw 33 ties.  

Layla Olatunde led Bryant on the offensive end with a team-best 12 kills and .320 hitting percentage in her second career match. Claudia Camacho-Castro put on a defensive clinic, racking up a game-high 18 digs while notching a game-high five service aces. Kaitlin Curran continued her strong play on both sides of the ball, logging a team-high 13.5 total points and an 11-kill, 11-dig double-double.  

 
COMMENT FROM HEAD COACH THERESA GARLACY:   

"Today's match saw the freshmen getting lots of valuable experience and having success. Claudia (Camacho-Castro) stood out wearing the libero jersey, collecting 18 digs and five aces while being a dynamic team leader as the only upperclassman on the court. Kaitlin (Curran) had her second double-double on the season with 11 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore Maddie Keem ran the offense with great tempo and kept NC A&T out of system. Freshman Layla Olatunde had a break-out game, hitting .320 and getting two assist blocks. Sophie (Gonzalez) had a great receive game for us today as well. A great group effort as we continue to grow." 

SET 1- NC A&T, 25-23  

• The Aggies went up 2-1 before Bryant scored three unanswered points, including a block from Curran and kill from Cara Lewandowski, to hold a 4-2 advantage.  

• Both sides proceeded to play each other closely, leading to a 14-14 knot midway through the set. Two straight kills from Lewandowski put the Bulldogs ahead 16-14. 

• NC A&T later forced another deadlock at 21-21, prompting a Bryant timeout.  

• The Aggies outscored Bryant 4-2 out the break to take the first set.  

SET 2- Bryant, 25-21  

• After trailing 6-4 to begin the set, Olatunde slammed down two kills in a row off assists from Madison Keem to tie the Aggies at 6-6.  

• The Aggies and Bulldogs traded points to a 14-14 score, until Camacho-Castro notched back-to-back services aces to put Bryant ahead two.  

• The Bulldogs forced a NC A&T timeout after a service ace from Kalia Alvarado grew its lead to four, 20-16.  

• The Aggies pulled within a point, 21-20, but Alicia Johansen and Curran swatted down solo blocks on consecutives plays to put the Bulldog's lead at 23-20. 

• Bryant ultimately held its edge the rest of the way, with Johansen recording another block to secure the set and tie the match at 1-1.  

SET 3- NC A&T, 25-22 

• NC A&T pieced together a 5-2 lead to open the set.  

• The Bulldogs answered with a 6-1 run, featuring kills from Keem, Hannah Jackson, Lewandowski, and Olatunde, to take an 8-6 advantage and draw an Aggies timeout. 

• The Aggies later tied the set at 11-11, and both squads continued to exchange blows to a 17-17 deadlock.  

• NC A&T scored three unanswered points to build a 20-17 edge.  

• Bryant trimmed its deficit to two points five different times the remainder of the set but never reclaimed the lead.  

SET 4- NC A&T, 25-21  

• The Bulldogs jumped out to an 8-5 lead following block assists for Olatunde and Keem and a kill from Jackson.  

• The Aggies fought back with a 6-3 stretch to tie the set at 11-11.  

• Neither team held a lead over a point the next 18 rallies. A kill from Keem off a Curran assist knotted the score once more at 20-20.  

• NC A&T then took five of the next six points to secure the victory.  

• Keem delivered a career-high 36 assists as the Bulldog's starting setter.  

• Lewandowski registered eight kills while Jackson added seven kills.  

• Curran and Johansen both led Bryant with three total blocks.  

• Curran has produced two double doubles in two games to open the 2026 season.  

• Laura René-Fraser made her collegiate debut in the fourth set.  

• Sophia Gonzalez recorded her first collegiate kill.  

The Bulldogs face off against Appalachian State on Sunday, Aug. 30 in its final match of the Charlotte Tournament. First serve is set for 11 a.m. at Halton Arena. Live stats will be accessible here.