North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Volleyball Snaps Jinx, Tops Maryland
11/12/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RALEIGH, NC (November 12) - The NC State volleyball team (14-18, 4-11) defeated Maryland (13-19, 3-12) 3-1 on Friday evening in Reynolds Coliseum. The victory snapped Maryland's decade of dominance over NC State as the Terps had won the previous 19 meetings between the two schools, having not dropped a contest since 1988.
Tara Greene, Alison Kreager and Charece Williams all shined for the Pack in the match. Greene picked up 15 kills and 16 digs while Kreager nailed 13 kills and 16 digs and Williams added 14 kills and 14 digs.
The Terps were paced by Beth Murphy and Katie Hannas. Murphy had a match high 20 digs while banging out 14 kills. Hannas led the Terps with 15 kills and also added 10 digs on the evening.
NC State came out in game one looking for redemption after falling in their past five ACC contests. The Terps were slightly out of sink to start the match, as they let NC State roll the first six points on the score board. Maryland was only able to muster one point the entire game as they fell, 1-15. NC State's Charece Williams nailed a game high 4 kills in opening frame.
A series of Wolfpack service errors helped Maryland jump out to a early 5-2 lead in the second game. NC State would rattle off the next five points for a 7-5 lead before Maryland answered with a four point rally of their own. The streaky play of the game continued as NC State would cause Maryland coach Janice Kruger to take a time-out with her Terps trailing 11-9. The play stoppage was unable to stop NC State's momentum, however, as the Pack concluded the game by scoring the final eight points for a 15-9 win. NC State's Alison Kreager and Maryland's Katie Hannas tied for the game two high with four kills a piece.
The third game began as a very close affair as the two teams opened by splitting the first ten points of the game. A four point Maryland swing caused NC State's Kim Hall to call a time-out in hopes of settling down her young squad. However, Maryland continued to build the lead until they doubled NC State's point total with a 12-6 advantage. Following a second time-out by Hall, NC State would mount a small rally to close the gap to 9-13. Maryland's Kruger countered with a time-out of her own, and the Terps responded with the two points necessary to win the game. Maryland's Beth Murphy led the game with a stellar 6 kills.
The fourth game saw NC State hop out to an early 7-4 lead as the Pack looked to end the match with a victory. A quick Kruger time-out was ineffective in stymieing the Wolfpack's momentum as they took a commanding 10-4 lead and forced Kruger into using her final time-out. Maryland began to close the gap quickly, however, as it was soon only a 12-11 NC State lead, causing Hall to call for a time-out. Maryland soon found themselves at game point with a 14-12 advantage but NC State was not ready to retire. A four point Wolfpack rally saw them take the game and, consequentially, the match.
Up next for the Pack is the final contest of the regular season. The Florida State Seminoles will travel to Reynolds for a 5:00 p.m. affair. NC State's lone senior, Kerry Bridenback, will be honored just prior to the beginning of the match.. The Seminoles enter the contest with only one ACC victory on the season, which came on October 17 against NC State.
NC State (14-18, 4-11) defeats Maryland (12-18, 5-1), 3-1 (15-1, 25-9,
22-25, 16-14)
Kills: NC State 66 (Tara Greene 15), Maryland 60 (Kate Hannas 15)
Digs: NC
State 83 (Tara Greene & Alison Greene 16), Maryland 61 (Beth Murphy 20)
Assists: NC State 59 (Erin Vesey 59), Maryland 54 (Libby Alberts 47).
