Upcoming Event: Volleyball at Georgia Tech on October 10, 2025 at 7 PM
/
7 PM
Volleyball
at Georgia Tech
Thursday, August 19
Durham, N.C.
6:30 PM
Duke University
vs
North Carolina A&T (Exh.)
Duke Welcomes NC A&T for Exhibition
8/18/2021 2:02:00 PM | Volleyball
DURHAM – Entering the 51st season in program history, the Duke volleyball team will welcome North Carolina A&T Thursday, Aug. 19 to Cameron Indoor Stadium for a 6:30 p.m., exhibition match.
LAST TIME OUT
The Blue Devils concluded the 2020-21 season 9-13 overall and went 7-10 in conference. Entering her 23rd season at the helm of the program, head coach Jolene Nagel returns 11 letterwinners from this past season's squad, including All-ACC selections Mackenzie Cole, Ade Owokoniran and Payton Schwantz, in addition to five newcomers. During her Duke tenure, Nagel has led the Blue Devils to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and 14 seasons with 20 or more victories.
FAMILIAR FACES
In addition to returnees Cole, Owokoniran and Schwantz, Nagel welcomes back seniors Lily Cooper and Alex Springate, juniors Lizzie Fleming, Gracie Johnson, Camille Nazor and Moorea Wood and sophomores Georgia Stavrinides and Sydney Yap.
Duke adds five newcomers in graduate student Taylor Cole, sister of Mackenzie, and freshmen Ngozi Iloh, Rylie Kadel, Rachel Richardson and Nikki Underwood.
AGAINST THE FIELD
Duke and North Carolina A&T meet for just the sixth time in program history and for the first time since 2002. The Blue Devils have not dropped a match (5-0) and in their last meeting, Nagel's squad captured a 3-1 victory Sept. 17, 2002.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
Last season, the Aggies went 11-2 overall and 8-0 in conference play during their shortened season due to COVID-19 and earned a bid to the NCAA Championship after capturing the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference Championship.
Head coach Hal Clifton returns two-time MEAC Player of the Year in Edie Brewer as she helped guide the Aggies to their first NCAA appearance.
BLUE DEVILS BACK IN ACTION
Nagel returns nearly all of her offense from the 2020-21 season, led by Ade Owokoniran (243 kills), Gracie Johnson (223 kills) and Payton Schwantz (160 kills). Duke's defense is also set up to be successful this season, spearheaded by 2021 All-ACC libero Cole with 396 digs. The Blue Devils return both setters in Nazor and Springate and its top blockers are back in action in Cooper, Fleming and Stavrinides.
SCHWANTZ RETURNS FOR FIFTH YEAR
Graduate student Payton Schwantz elected to use her final year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to COVID-19 and is currently enrolled in Duke's Fuqua School of Business.
The 5-11 outside hitter has been a mainstay in Duke's lineup the last four years, typically as a six-rotation player.
She has played in 376 sets and accumulated a whopping 1,025 kills, 818 digs, 100 blocks and 38 service aces to date. The Frisco, Texas native became the 26th Blue Devil to reach the 1,000-kill milestone in Duke's sweep over Boston College on March 22, 2021.
COLE X2
The Duke volleyball program added another Cole family member to the squad this year as graduate student Taylor Cole joined this summer. Taylor graduated from Iona College in the spring of 2021 where she spent the past four years as a defensive specialist for the Gaels. Taylor is the older sister of current Blue Devil senior defensive specialist Mackenzie.
Throughout her career, Taylor has seen action in 359 sets for 98 matches and accumulated 639 digs. She also owns 106 aces and 58 assists.
COLE, SPRINGATE NAMED CAPTAINS
The Duke volleyball program and head coach Jolene Nagel are excited to announce its captains for the 2021 season as seniors Mackenzie Cole and Alex Springate will lead the Blue Devils this fall.
The two have combined to play in 137 matches over the last three years and own impressive resumés.
GAME DAY INFORMATION
For more information on health and safety guidelines, as well as general game day information, please visit here.
NEXT UP
Following this exhibition match, Duke's first regular season contest will be on the road at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, beginning with the Chanticleers Friday, Aug. 27.
For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".
#GoDuke
LAST TIME OUT
The Blue Devils concluded the 2020-21 season 9-13 overall and went 7-10 in conference. Entering her 23rd season at the helm of the program, head coach Jolene Nagel returns 11 letterwinners from this past season's squad, including All-ACC selections Mackenzie Cole, Ade Owokoniran and Payton Schwantz, in addition to five newcomers. During her Duke tenure, Nagel has led the Blue Devils to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and 14 seasons with 20 or more victories.
FAMILIAR FACES
In addition to returnees Cole, Owokoniran and Schwantz, Nagel welcomes back seniors Lily Cooper and Alex Springate, juniors Lizzie Fleming, Gracie Johnson, Camille Nazor and Moorea Wood and sophomores Georgia Stavrinides and Sydney Yap.
Duke adds five newcomers in graduate student Taylor Cole, sister of Mackenzie, and freshmen Ngozi Iloh, Rylie Kadel, Rachel Richardson and Nikki Underwood.
AGAINST THE FIELD
Duke and North Carolina A&T meet for just the sixth time in program history and for the first time since 2002. The Blue Devils have not dropped a match (5-0) and in their last meeting, Nagel's squad captured a 3-1 victory Sept. 17, 2002.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
Last season, the Aggies went 11-2 overall and 8-0 in conference play during their shortened season due to COVID-19 and earned a bid to the NCAA Championship after capturing the Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference Championship.
Head coach Hal Clifton returns two-time MEAC Player of the Year in Edie Brewer as she helped guide the Aggies to their first NCAA appearance.
BLUE DEVILS BACK IN ACTION
Nagel returns nearly all of her offense from the 2020-21 season, led by Ade Owokoniran (243 kills), Gracie Johnson (223 kills) and Payton Schwantz (160 kills). Duke's defense is also set up to be successful this season, spearheaded by 2021 All-ACC libero Cole with 396 digs. The Blue Devils return both setters in Nazor and Springate and its top blockers are back in action in Cooper, Fleming and Stavrinides.
SCHWANTZ RETURNS FOR FIFTH YEAR
Graduate student Payton Schwantz elected to use her final year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to COVID-19 and is currently enrolled in Duke's Fuqua School of Business.
The 5-11 outside hitter has been a mainstay in Duke's lineup the last four years, typically as a six-rotation player.
She has played in 376 sets and accumulated a whopping 1,025 kills, 818 digs, 100 blocks and 38 service aces to date. The Frisco, Texas native became the 26th Blue Devil to reach the 1,000-kill milestone in Duke's sweep over Boston College on March 22, 2021.
COLE X2
The Duke volleyball program added another Cole family member to the squad this year as graduate student Taylor Cole joined this summer. Taylor graduated from Iona College in the spring of 2021 where she spent the past four years as a defensive specialist for the Gaels. Taylor is the older sister of current Blue Devil senior defensive specialist Mackenzie.
Throughout her career, Taylor has seen action in 359 sets for 98 matches and accumulated 639 digs. She also owns 106 aces and 58 assists.
COLE, SPRINGATE NAMED CAPTAINS
The Duke volleyball program and head coach Jolene Nagel are excited to announce its captains for the 2021 season as seniors Mackenzie Cole and Alex Springate will lead the Blue Devils this fall.
The two have combined to play in 137 matches over the last three years and own impressive resumés.
GAME DAY INFORMATION
For more information on health and safety guidelines, as well as general game day information, please visit here.
NEXT UP
Following this exhibition match, Duke's first regular season contest will be on the road at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, beginning with the Chanticleers Friday, Aug. 27.
For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".
#GoDuke
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