North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Volleyball to Participate in InnTowner Invitational
9/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 12, 2003
The NC State volleyball team will take its 5-3 record on the road this weekend when it plays part in the InnTowner Invitational hosted by Wisconsin. Recently coming off its third straight victory, a 3-0 win over North Carolina A&T, the Wolfpack will face No. 25 Wisconsin Friday at 7:00 p.m. and then Iowa in a 5:00 p.m. match on Saturday.
Leading NC State's offensive attack is freshman outside hitter Julia Reis and junior middle blocker Maya Mapp. With both featuring attack percentages over .260, Reis at .265 and Mapp at .304, the duo will look to present problems for the Badgers and Hawkeyes defenses. Reis has a team-best 107 kills heading into the weekend, while Mapp stands second with 76.
Senior setter Crystal Shannon is also off to a solid start in 2003, sporting 328 assists thus far. She needs only 16 assists to move into sole possession of seventh place in school history for the most assists in a career. Heading the Wolfpack's defense will be senior libero Caroline Frede and junior middle blocker Sarah Ensminger. Frede leads the team in digs with 90, while Ensminger has stepped up her presence around the net, totaling a team-best 30 total blocks.
The Badgers (4-2) are looking to get back on the winning path after suffering a 3-0 loss to then No. 8 Pepperdine. But Wisconsin is still a powerful force to face on the court as they have out hit their opponents, as a team, .271 to .216. The Badgers will look to outside hitters Jill Odenthal and Lisa Zukowski, both of who have combined for 142 kills on the season. Zukowski is also the team's leader in digs with 62, while freshman middle blocker Maria Carlini has already begun to make her name known defensively with 14 total blocks heading in.
Like Wisconsin, Iowa is also coming into the tournament off a recent loss. The Hawkeyes were downed 3-0 by Drake on Tuesday, but will look to grab some key wins this weekend. Leading the team in kills is junior outside hitter Laura Simpson with 114, while junior middle blocker Carolyn Giese is right behind her with 87 kills of her own. Senior setter Jitka Stehnova will due what she can to help direct Iowa on to victory, as she looks to add to her 304 assist total. Meanwhile, senior middle blocker Abby Tjaden and Giese hope to punish opposing teams' attacks as both enter the weekend with 22 total blocks on the season.
