North Carolina State University Athletics
Tough Competition Awaits Volleyball in Florida
8/30/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RALEIGH, N.C. - Two top-25 programs, and a third very challenging squad, await the NC State volleyball team at this weekend's Campus USA Credit Union Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. The Pack will take on No. 19 Santa Clara and host No. 7 Florida on Friday, Aug. 31, before ending play against Georgia Southern on Saturday, Sept. 1. Play will be held at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on the UF campus.
The Wolfpack is 1-4 all-time against Florida, but has never faced Santa Clara or Georgia Southern on the volleyball court.
"We are looking forward to taking on some very challenging teams this weekend," said NC State head coach Charita J. Stubbs. "This should be a great test for our team with conference play just a few weeks down the road."
The Pack will arrive in Gainesville with a 3-1 record after downing South Carolina State, Campbell and Loyola College last weekend at the NC Central Tournament in Durham, N.C.
In just four career matches at the collegiate level, Lauren Zaniboni has began to emerge as a leader on the court for the Pack. Her 67 kills and .382 hitting percentage are both team bests. Megan Rehmer stands second in kills with 39 and leads in service aces with 10. Alex Smith and Allison Davis have split time at the setter position, with Smith collecting 112 assists and Davis securing 40.
State will open up on Friday against No. 19 Santa Clara at 10 a.m. Last week the Broncos (3-0) swept through the tournament field to take the title at the Boise State Invitational, limiting its opponents to a miniscule 188 points in nine games. Lindsy Evans was named tournament MVP, while teammate Crystal Matich joined her on the all-tournament team.
Friday's festivities will wind down with a 7:30 p.m. first serve against No. 7 Florida. The Gators (2-0) opened up its season a weekend ago with road victories over Illinois State and Notre Dame. Marcie Hampton's two double-doubles from last week build her streak to a career-best four double-doubles in a row dating back to the second round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Florida is guaranteed to be a formidable opponent on its home court, having won 20-straight matches in regular season tournaments at home. NC State's own head coach Stubbs was an assistant coach on the Arizona team that last topped the Gators in Gainesville on Sept. 1, 2001.
UF enters the season having won at least a share of the SEC regular season title for 16-straight years.
NC State will wrap up play with a 6:30 p.m. bout against Georgia Southern on Saturday night. The Eagles stand at 2-2 following a win at Kennesaw State this past Tuesday. GSU head coach Nicole McCray was a standout at Florida from 1998-02 and was a four-time All-SEC performer, 2000 SEC Player of the Year and an AVCA All-American. Her younger sister, Amber, a current outside hitter at Florida, grabbed AVCA All-American honors last year.
Live stats and audio for all matches against Florida can be found on GatorZone.com free of charge. Simply point your browser to the UF women's volleyball homepage and click on the web broadcast link on the right side of the page.
Following this weekend's action, State will return home to host the Holiday Inn Brownstone Volleyball Challenge next weekend at historic Reynolds Coliseum on the NC State campus. Akron, Dartmouth and East Carolina will round out the tournament field.
The Wolfpack is 1-4 all-time against Florida, but has never faced Santa Clara or Georgia Southern on the volleyball court.
"We are looking forward to taking on some very challenging teams this weekend," said NC State head coach Charita J. Stubbs. "This should be a great test for our team with conference play just a few weeks down the road."
The Pack will arrive in Gainesville with a 3-1 record after downing South Carolina State, Campbell and Loyola College last weekend at the NC Central Tournament in Durham, N.C.
In just four career matches at the collegiate level, Lauren Zaniboni has began to emerge as a leader on the court for the Pack. Her 67 kills and .382 hitting percentage are both team bests. Megan Rehmer stands second in kills with 39 and leads in service aces with 10. Alex Smith and Allison Davis have split time at the setter position, with Smith collecting 112 assists and Davis securing 40.
State will open up on Friday against No. 19 Santa Clara at 10 a.m. Last week the Broncos (3-0) swept through the tournament field to take the title at the Boise State Invitational, limiting its opponents to a miniscule 188 points in nine games. Lindsy Evans was named tournament MVP, while teammate Crystal Matich joined her on the all-tournament team.
Friday's festivities will wind down with a 7:30 p.m. first serve against No. 7 Florida. The Gators (2-0) opened up its season a weekend ago with road victories over Illinois State and Notre Dame. Marcie Hampton's two double-doubles from last week build her streak to a career-best four double-doubles in a row dating back to the second round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament. Florida is guaranteed to be a formidable opponent on its home court, having won 20-straight matches in regular season tournaments at home. NC State's own head coach Stubbs was an assistant coach on the Arizona team that last topped the Gators in Gainesville on Sept. 1, 2001.
UF enters the season having won at least a share of the SEC regular season title for 16-straight years.
NC State will wrap up play with a 6:30 p.m. bout against Georgia Southern on Saturday night. The Eagles stand at 2-2 following a win at Kennesaw State this past Tuesday. GSU head coach Nicole McCray was a standout at Florida from 1998-02 and was a four-time All-SEC performer, 2000 SEC Player of the Year and an AVCA All-American. Her younger sister, Amber, a current outside hitter at Florida, grabbed AVCA All-American honors last year.
Live stats and audio for all matches against Florida can be found on GatorZone.com free of charge. Simply point your browser to the UF women's volleyball homepage and click on the web broadcast link on the right side of the page.
Following this weekend's action, State will return home to host the Holiday Inn Brownstone Volleyball Challenge next weekend at historic Reynolds Coliseum on the NC State campus. Akron, Dartmouth and East Carolina will round out the tournament field.
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