Aljoe, Cormier Set for Final Home Matches of NC State Career

RALEIGH, N.C. – A pair of NC State volleyball seniors will play the final home matches of their careers this weekend when the Wolfpack hosts Virginia Tech Friday and Pittsburgh Saturday. Both matches are slated to start at 7:30 p.m. inside Carmichael Gym.

Tanna Aljoe and Morgan Cormier will be honored prior to Saturday night's match for their contributions to NC State volleyball.

The Wolfpack enters the weekend with a 14-12 overall record (3-11 in ACC play), while Virginia Tech is 15-11 on the season and 6-8 in conference action. Pitt has been having a great year and is currently fourth in the ACC with a 10-4 clip and a 20-6 overall mark.

Then There Were Two
Cormier is the lone player remaining with the team from the 2012 recruiting class, while Aljoe transferred into the program after spending her freshman season at San Diego State.

During their tenures with the Pack, both have made stellar contributions to the team. Cormier has started in 24 of NC State's 26 matches this season and has tallied 34 service aces, which is the second most in program history in the 25-point rally-scoring era. Aljoe made history of her own during her sophomore year, collecting 59 assists in a single match – the most in school history in the 25-point rally-scoring era.

"They're both great young ladies," said head coach Bryan Bunn. "They've both worked very hard for us with great attitudes and a terrific work ethic. They've meant a lot to the leadership of our program and we're going to miss them."

Last Time Out
In its last outing, NC State dropped a 3-1 road decision at Syracuse.

Leading The Way
Sophomore middle blocker Kaitlyn Kearney leads NC State offensively this season with 267 kills, an average of 2.78 kills per set. Freshman Blayke Hranicka is second on the squad with 250 kills or 2.58 kills per set.

Junior setter Maggie Speaks paces the Pack with 822 assists, an average of 10.15 per set which ranks fifth in the ACC. Defensively, junior libero Rachel Eppley paces the Pack with 4.00 digs per set, which ranks among the top 10 in the conference.

Serving Up Aces
NC State leads the ACC with 1.54 service aces per set, which ranks among the top 50 in the NCAA. Cormier is the team's top server and has tallied 0.36 aces per set, third best in the conference.

Scouting Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech is the first team that NC State will play for a second time this season. The Wolfpack lost 3-1 in Blacksburg, Va., in the first meeting between the teams.

The Hokies are 15-11 overall and 6-8 in ACC play after splitting last weekend's matches, defeating Notre Dame, 3-0, and losing by the same margin at No. 22 Louisville.

Junior outside hitter Lindsey Owens leads Tech with 332 kills, an average of 3.39 kills per set and classmate Amanda McKinzie has swatted 3.18 kps. At the setter position, Rhegan Mitchell paces the team with 7.88 assists per set. Kenedy McGrath is the Hokies' libero and has collected 3.91 digs per set.

As a team, Virginia Tech has a .247 attacking percentage and has limited opponents to a .190 clip.

Scouting Pittsburgh
Pitt has enjoyed a stellar 2015 campaign, as the Panthers are 20-6 overall and 10-4 against conference opponents to occupy fourth place in the ACC. Last weekend, the squad split a pair of matches, defeating Notre Dame in straight sets and losing a 3-2 decision against No. 22 Louisville.

The Wolfpack opened ACC play this season against the Panthers, suffering a 3-1 loss.

Graduate student Kadi Kullerkann headlines the Pitt offense with 344 kills, 3.66 kills per set. Jenna Jacobson and Kamalani Akeo have split time at the setter position, with the former handing out 7.21 assists per set and the latter 4.85. Defensively, Angela Seman has recorded 4.54 digs per set.

Collectively, Pitt has a .242 attacking percentage, while opponents have been held to a .172 clip.

#STATEment

Aljoe, Cormier Set for Final Home Matches of NC State Career

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Tanna Aljoe

Morgan Cormier

Rachel Eppley

Blayke Hranicka

Kaitlyn Kearney

Maggie Speaks