PITTSBURG, Kan. – Cameron opened up the Gorilla Classic hosted by Pittsburg State by defeating New Mexico Highlands in five sets before topping Arkansas-Monticello in four sets to close the day.

Against NMH, the Aggies recorded three double-doubles by Anjolie Navarrete, Arianna Navarrete, and Paris Patterson. Anjolie Navarrete had 26 assists and 11 digs, Arianna Navarrete recorded 13 kills and 13 digs, and Patterson turned in 13 kills and 17 digs.

Natalia Araujo collected seven kills, Jessica Lipkit had three, Anjolie Navarrete added two, and Caitlyn Henderson and Meagan Jimenez had one.

The Black-and-Gold had 14 aces; Arianna Navarrete had seven, Araujo and Anjolie Navarrete added two, while Jimenez, Lipkit, and Patterson had one.

To go with Anjolie Navarrete's team-high 26 assists, Ada Kuday had four, Jimenez dished out three, Alice Tuci collected two assists, Araujo, Lipkit, and Arianna Navarrete had one.

Jimenez recorded a team-high 19 digs, while Patterson collected 17, Arianna Navarrete had 13, Anjolie Navarrete added 11m Araujo grabbed 10, Tuci had two, and Kuday, Lipkit, and Jacee Stelter added one.

The Aggies' defensive front was a difference maker in the matchup swatting down 32 blocks. Henderson led Cameron with eight, Anjolie Navarrete knocked down seven, Lipkit collected five, Araujo and Arianna Navarrete swatted four, and Patterson and Stelter blocked two.

Highlands jumped out in front early in the first set, grabbing a 9-4 lead, but a 6-0 run by the Black-and-Gold gave CU an 11-9 lead. NMH responded with a rally of 6-1 to grab a 15-12 lead and closed out the first set on an 8-1 run to win 25-16.

The Cowgirls started the second set like the first, building a 17-11 lead, before closing set two out 25-17.

After adjusting, the Aggies did not allow New Mexico Highlands to start strong in the third set. Highlands got ahead 6-3, but CU bounced back to take an 8-6 lead. The teams traded points before ending up tied at 10-10 before Cameron rallied to a 15-1 run to close out the set, winning 25-11.

The Black-and-Gold jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the fourth set. The two teams traded points for the rest of the set, with the Aggies coming out on top 25-22.

Cameron kept their momentum going into the fifth set, grabbing an early 5-2 lead. The Aggies forced the mid-set switch with the eighth point leading 8-5. New Mexico Highlands got the set within a point at 9-8, but the Black-and-Gold closed out the Cowgirls with a 15-13 set win.

In the nightcap, the powerful duo of Arianna Navarrete and Patterson recorded their second double-double of the day. Arianna Navarrete recorded 16 kills and 20 digs, while Patterson had 16 kills and 22 digs against Arkansas-Monticello.

Araujo added five kills, Anjolie Navarrete tallied four, Henderson and Trinity Maldonado collected three, and Lipkit had one.

Cameron started the match with a quick 4-0 lead. The Blossoms battled back to tie the set at 7-7 before building a 14-10 lead. The Aggies rallied back to knot the score at 18-18 while closing the set on a 10-5 run, winning the first set 25-23.

In set two, both teams traded points early before UAM rallied five straight points to grab a 15-9 lead. The Black-and-Gold climbed back within a point at 16-17, but Arkansas-Monticello responded with a 5-1 run to take a 22-17 lead. Despite a 6-3 run to close the set, CU fell 23-25.

After a quick 3-3 opening in set four, UAM climbed ahead 10-6. The Aggies tied the set at 13-13 after a 7-3 run. After trading leads, the teams were knotted at 20-20 before Cameron closed the set, winning 25-23.

Set four had two early four-point rallies by both teams, coming out tied at 5-5. The Aggies and the Blossoms traded rallies throughout the set, but Cameron was able to hold on and win the fourth set and match with a 25-23 win. 

Five Aggies had an ace in the match. Jimenez and Anjolie Navarrete had two and Arianna Navarrete recorded one.

Anjolie Navarrete dished out 31 assists, Jimenez collected four, Araujo and Patterson had two and Arianna Navarrete added one.

Patterson led the Black-and-Gold with 22 digs. Arianna Navarrete snagged 20, Jimenez recorded 18, Anjolie Navarrete collected nine, Araujo had six, and Henderson had one.

Henderson and Arianna Navarrete collected three blocks, Araujo and Lipkit clipped two shots, and Patterson and Maldonado had one.

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