North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Clemson
Wolfpack Volleyball Drops Heartbreaker To Clemson
10/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 14, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State volleyball team suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss at home Friday to Clemson. Stefani Eddins led the Wolfpack (6-10, 0-8 ACC) and Jeannette Abbott led the Tigers (9-6, 4-3 ACC) with 23 kills each, as Clemson won the match by scores of 30-24, 21-30, 30-22, 25-30, 15-13.
"That was a great match," said NC State head coach Mary Byrne. "We made some adjustments this week and we responded well to those tonight. Everyone stepped up tonight and showed great heart and team effort. We just came up short."
The Wolfpack played the Tigers close in the first game, exchanging the lead five times before Clemson pulled away with an 11-5 run over the last 11 points. NC State came out firing in game two, hitting .378 with only three attack errors while holding Clemson to a .116 team attack percentage. Melissa Rabe served four straight points, including a pair of aces, to propel the Wolfpack to an eight-point lead at 17-9. NC State never looked back, widened the margin to 11 points at 24-13 and easily won 30-21.
After the break Clemson took an early lead in game three before NC State tied the score at 10-10, but the Tigers ran away with it from there, hitting .441 while holding the Wolfpack to a .120 team attack percentage for the game. Switching back to the hot side of the court, NC State led the whole way in the fourth game, hitting .300 as a team. Clemson tied the score at 14-14, but the Wolfpack sparked a 4-0 run and never looked back forcing a fifth game.
In a see saw fifth game that saw the score tied 10 times, including 13-13, the Tigers went on a 6-1 run to finish the game and win the match after NC State led 12-9.
Eddins, a senior middle blocker who leads the ACC in attack percentage, put away a career high 23 kills with a .386 attack percentage and a team-high five blocks. Sophomore libero Andrea Bentley led the squad with a career-high 34 digs and freshman outside hitter Aiwane Iboaya tallied a career best 14 kills with a .206 attack percentage. Junior setter Melissa Rabe posted a team-high 51 assists to go with three aces, five digs and three blocks while senior middle blocker Adeola Kosoko added 11 kills with a .226 attack percentage with six digs and three blocks.
NC State freshman defensive specialist Shawn Carroll, who suffered a preseason leg injury, saw her first collegiate action in game three. Clemson head coach Jolene Jordan Hoover had a death in the family and was not in attendance.
NC State returns to action Saturday, when the Wolfpack hosts Georgia Tech, 5:00 p.m. in Reynolds Coliseum.
