North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Volleyball Begins Long Home Stretch This Weekend
9/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 30, 2004
The NC State volleyball team will look for its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory of the 2004 season this weekend when it plays host to Virginia and Maryland. After suffering two losses to Clemson and Georgia Tech on the road, the Wolfpack will face the Cavaliers on Saturday night at 7 p.m., and then the Terrapins on Sunday at 2 p.m. Both matches will take place at Reynolds Coliseum.
Junior middle blocker Adeola Kosoko and senior outside hitter Melanie Rowe lead the Pack's (10-5, 0-2 ACC) offense. Kosoko, who ranks fifth in the conference with a .352 attack percentage, features a team-best 192 kills, while Rowe has added 173 kills of her own for head coach Mary Byrne's team. NC State continues to lead the ACC, 18th nationally, in blocks per game average (3.12), led by junior middle blocker Stefani Eddins. Already, Eddins has racked up 84 total blocks, with Kosoko right behind her at 74 total blocks. Freshman setter Lauren Markowski has also made a big impact with 562 assists to go with 104 digs.
The Cavaliers (11-3, 1-1) are coming off a 1-3 conference loss to Duke and will face North Carolina before traveling over to Raleigh. Three players have recorded more than 140 kills thus far for Virginia, led by freshman outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood. Kirkwood features a team-best 269 kills off a .307 attack percentage, and also adds 110 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Lindsay Osco and senior middle Alexis Geocaris also have stepped up offensively, totaling 151 and 142 kills respectively. With 64 total blocks, Geocaris has also made a name for herself defensively, while sophomore setter Emily Kirkwood is the team's leader in assists with 633.
As for Maryland, the Terps enter the weekend at .500 with a 6-6 record overall, 1-1 in conference play. Senior outside hitter Sarah Treadwell leads the team with 153 kills, while senior outside hitter Maria DiLivio, junior middle blocker Stephanie Smith and junior middle blocker Rachel Wagener have all tallied over 100 kills each. On the defensive side of the net, Wagener leads the team in total blocks with 59, and Treadwell's 159 digs is also a team best. Senior setter Aimee Huddleston has already dished out 516 assists.
