Saturday, September 2
Bayamon, P.R. (Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez)
8:30 P.M.
NC State
vs
#3 Florida
Photo by: Chris Baird
NC State Volleyball Prepped for SEC-ACC Challenge in Puerto Rico
9/1/2017 10:03:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Wolfpack set to battle third-ranked Florida and Auburn
Dates: Saturday - Sunday, Sept. 2-3
Location: San Juan, P.R.
Site: Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez
Times: 8:30 p.m. (Sat.) | 6:00 p.m. (Sun.)
Live Video: FloVolleyball
SAN JUAN, P. R. – The NC State volleyball team is set for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) – Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Challenge this weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Wolfpack will play third-ranked Florida Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. and the Auburn Tigers Sunday evening at 6 p.m. inside the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez.
NC State enters the Puerto Rico Clasico with an 0-3 record following three hard-fought matches on opening weekend against a pair of strong teams, both projected to win their respective conferences this season (Kansas, Missouri State). No. 3 Florida is 2-0 on the year with a pair of top-five wins, as the Gators took down previously top-ranked Texas and No. 5 Nebraska, while Auburn is 3-1 in 2017.
Both of the Wolfpack's matches will be streamed live on FloVolleyball, with a subscription required to view the contests. For more information on the live streams click here.
Stellar Debut for Evans
NC State freshman Melissa Evans enjoyed a stellar start to her collegiate career, as she led the team in kills last weekend with 50. She recorded double-digit kills in all three matches, highlighted by 20 kills versus Missouri State.
Evans showed few signs of inexperience in the season opener, as the Lone Tree, Colo., native swatted a team-high 14 kills against the nation's eighth-ranked team, the Kansas Jayhawks. She followed that performance with 20 kills versus Missouri State, headlined by 17 kills on her first 27 attacks without committing an error.
In the final match of the weekend, Evans put down 16 kills in the rematch with Kansas.
Triple Double for Pickrell
Junior setter Kylie Pickrell accomplished a rare feat against Missouri State, as she logged the program's first triple double in the rally-scoring era. It was also one of just six such performances among Division I volleyball players and the only from the ACC on opening weekend.
Pickrell handed out 47 assists complemented by 19 digs and pitched in offensively with 13 kills.
Kuchmaner Takes Over at Libero
After redshirting last season, Makenzie Kuchmaner has taken over as the Wolfpack's libero. She served as NC State's libero in all three matches and delivered strong performances. The Waxhaw, N.C., native collected 50 digs last weekend to lead the Wolfpack in that category.
Kuchmaner recorded 14 digs against Kansas in the season opener, 15 digs versus the Missouri State Bears and a career-best 21 digs in the rematch with the Jayhawks to close out the weekend.
Freshmen Debuts
Three freshmen saw action on opening weekend for NC State, headlined by Evans starting all three matches. Kaylee Frazier also started a pair of matches and recorded 16 digs versus Missouri State, while Nailah Gordon played in both contests last Saturday with a kill in each.
Wolfpack Offense Clicking Early
NC State's offense was strong on opening weekend, as the Pack ranks third in the ACC in team hitting percentage (.248) and kills per set (13.64). The Wolfpack notched its highest attacking percentage against Missouri State with a .292 clip and 15.6 kills per set in that contest.
New Setters, No Problem
Kylie Pickrell and Becky Porter have split time at the setter position for NC State and the duo has turned in strong results. After the first weekend of play, the Wolfpack ranks second in the ACC with 13.0 assists per set. Pickrell owns 105 assists and Porter has tallied 54.
The pair is replacing former All-Region and All-ACC selection Maggie Speaks, who graduated last December and is now playing professionally in Greece.
Scouting Florida
The Florida Gators are among NCAA Volleyball's elite programs, as they rank among the top three for most wins as a Division I program since 1984 and top 10 for most NCAA Tournament wins all-time.
Florida was picked to win the SEC by the league's head coaches and the Gators were ranked No. 12 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Poll. Following wins against top-ranked Texas and No. 5 Nebraska, Florida has moved up to No. 3 in the top-25 poll.
NC State and Florida have met seven times in the history of the programs, with the Gators owning a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series. The teams last met in 2007 when Florida won the contest 3-0 in Gainesville.
The Gators are coached by two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year Mary Wise, who owns the most career victories among women's Division I head coaches (877). Three-time All-America selection Rhamat Alhassan leads the team along with National Player of the Week Rachael Kramer.
Scouting Auburn
The Auburn Tigers enter the weekend 3-1 following a midweek win against Alabama State at home. Auburn opened the season with a 3-0 sweep against Georgia Tech before falling by the same margin to Michigan State. The Tigers concluded opening weekend with a 3-1 victory against Furman.
Auburn was picked to finish fifth in the SEC's Preseason Poll. The Wolfpack and Tigers have met twice in the history of the programs with the series even at one apiece. Auburn won the most recent matchup in 1991, 3-1, but NC State won the first meeting in 1987, 3-0.
The Tigers are coached by Rick Nold, who is in his seventh season leading the program. Setter Alexa Filley and libero Jesse Earl lead the team, as both were 2016 All-Region and All-SEC Selections.
#STATEment
Location: San Juan, P.R.
Site: Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez
Times: 8:30 p.m. (Sat.) | 6:00 p.m. (Sun.)
Live Video: FloVolleyball
SAN JUAN, P. R. – The NC State volleyball team is set for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) – Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Challenge this weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Wolfpack will play third-ranked Florida Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. and the Auburn Tigers Sunday evening at 6 p.m. inside the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez.
NC State enters the Puerto Rico Clasico with an 0-3 record following three hard-fought matches on opening weekend against a pair of strong teams, both projected to win their respective conferences this season (Kansas, Missouri State). No. 3 Florida is 2-0 on the year with a pair of top-five wins, as the Gators took down previously top-ranked Texas and No. 5 Nebraska, while Auburn is 3-1 in 2017.
Both of the Wolfpack's matches will be streamed live on FloVolleyball, with a subscription required to view the contests. For more information on the live streams click here.
Stellar Debut for Evans
NC State freshman Melissa Evans enjoyed a stellar start to her collegiate career, as she led the team in kills last weekend with 50. She recorded double-digit kills in all three matches, highlighted by 20 kills versus Missouri State.
Evans showed few signs of inexperience in the season opener, as the Lone Tree, Colo., native swatted a team-high 14 kills against the nation's eighth-ranked team, the Kansas Jayhawks. She followed that performance with 20 kills versus Missouri State, headlined by 17 kills on her first 27 attacks without committing an error.
In the final match of the weekend, Evans put down 16 kills in the rematch with Kansas.
Triple Double for Pickrell
Junior setter Kylie Pickrell accomplished a rare feat against Missouri State, as she logged the program's first triple double in the rally-scoring era. It was also one of just six such performances among Division I volleyball players and the only from the ACC on opening weekend.
Pickrell handed out 47 assists complemented by 19 digs and pitched in offensively with 13 kills.
Kuchmaner Takes Over at Libero
After redshirting last season, Makenzie Kuchmaner has taken over as the Wolfpack's libero. She served as NC State's libero in all three matches and delivered strong performances. The Waxhaw, N.C., native collected 50 digs last weekend to lead the Wolfpack in that category.
Kuchmaner recorded 14 digs against Kansas in the season opener, 15 digs versus the Missouri State Bears and a career-best 21 digs in the rematch with the Jayhawks to close out the weekend.
Freshmen Debuts
Three freshmen saw action on opening weekend for NC State, headlined by Evans starting all three matches. Kaylee Frazier also started a pair of matches and recorded 16 digs versus Missouri State, while Nailah Gordon played in both contests last Saturday with a kill in each.
Wolfpack Offense Clicking Early
NC State's offense was strong on opening weekend, as the Pack ranks third in the ACC in team hitting percentage (.248) and kills per set (13.64). The Wolfpack notched its highest attacking percentage against Missouri State with a .292 clip and 15.6 kills per set in that contest.
New Setters, No Problem
Kylie Pickrell and Becky Porter have split time at the setter position for NC State and the duo has turned in strong results. After the first weekend of play, the Wolfpack ranks second in the ACC with 13.0 assists per set. Pickrell owns 105 assists and Porter has tallied 54.
The pair is replacing former All-Region and All-ACC selection Maggie Speaks, who graduated last December and is now playing professionally in Greece.
Scouting Florida
The Florida Gators are among NCAA Volleyball's elite programs, as they rank among the top three for most wins as a Division I program since 1984 and top 10 for most NCAA Tournament wins all-time.
Florida was picked to win the SEC by the league's head coaches and the Gators were ranked No. 12 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Preseason Poll. Following wins against top-ranked Texas and No. 5 Nebraska, Florida has moved up to No. 3 in the top-25 poll.
NC State and Florida have met seven times in the history of the programs, with the Gators owning a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series. The teams last met in 2007 when Florida won the contest 3-0 in Gainesville.
The Gators are coached by two-time AVCA National Coach of the Year Mary Wise, who owns the most career victories among women's Division I head coaches (877). Three-time All-America selection Rhamat Alhassan leads the team along with National Player of the Week Rachael Kramer.
Scouting Auburn
The Auburn Tigers enter the weekend 3-1 following a midweek win against Alabama State at home. Auburn opened the season with a 3-0 sweep against Georgia Tech before falling by the same margin to Michigan State. The Tigers concluded opening weekend with a 3-1 victory against Furman.
Auburn was picked to finish fifth in the SEC's Preseason Poll. The Wolfpack and Tigers have met twice in the history of the programs with the series even at one apiece. Auburn won the most recent matchup in 1991, 3-1, but NC State won the first meeting in 1987, 3-0.
The Tigers are coached by Rick Nold, who is in his seventh season leading the program. Setter Alexa Filley and libero Jesse Earl lead the team, as both were 2016 All-Region and All-SEC Selections.
#STATEment
Players Mentioned
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