North Carolina State University Athletics
State to Host Holiday Inn Brownstone Volleyball Challenge
9/6/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RALEIGH, N.C. - Three weeks into its season the NC State volleyball team will finally take its home court. The Pack will host the Holiday Inn Brownstone Invitational this Friday, Sept. 7 through Saturday, Sept. 8 at historic Reynolds Coliseum on the NC State campus. Six matches will be held in all, with two coming on Friday and four on Saturday. Akron, Dartmouth and East Carolina round out the tournament field.
Special promotions will run throughout the entire weekend during all three of State's matches. A complete list of promotions can be found at the bottom of this release.
Dartmouth and Akron will kick off the tournament with a 5 p.m. match on Friday, with East Carolina and NC State following in the 7 p.m. nightcap. Akron and East Carolina will get things started very early on Saturday at 10 a.m., before Dartmouth takes on the Wolfpack at 12 p.m. Action will resume at 5 p.m. following a brief a intermission with East Carolina challenging Dartmouth, and the tournament will come to a close at 7 p.m. as Akron battles NC State.
"We're looking forward to playing on our home court," said Wolfpack head coach Charita J. Stubbs. "We want to encourage all fans of Wolfpack volleyball to come out and watch the action."
The Pack posts a 1-2 all-time record against Akron and a 38-3 slate against ECU. Saturday morning's meeting with Dartmouth will be the first between the two programs.
State enters the weekend with a 3-4 record after participating at the Campus USA Credit Union Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., a week ago. An injection of freshmen have been leading the Pack on the court, as Lauren Zaniboni (91) and Megan Rehmer (59) stand atop the team's offensive kill production. Alex Smith is first in assists with 181, and Nikki Sweet's 65 digs is a team-high. Rehmer's 10 service aces and Zaniboni's .316 hitting percentage are both team-bests.
The Akron Zips will arrive in Raleigh riding a 6-1 record, it's best start to the season in three years. Last week UA finished second at the Sheraton Hilton Invitational, topping Wright State and Syracuse while falling to Ole Miss. The Zips began its season by sweeping four matches at the Temple Invitational, including a win over host Temple to win the tournament. Akron has dominated at the net, posting 73 blocks, 35 of which have been solo. A team full of experience, UA only carries three freshmen on its roster.
The East Carolina Pirates broke a three-match losing streak with a win at Campbell this past Tuesday to move to 3-5 on the young season. ECU has been shut out four times already this season, dropping contests in straight-sets to Duke, Purdue, William & Mary and Southern Illinois. As a team the Pirates have hit .194 with Kelley Wernert and Mignon Dubenion providing the majority of the offense. Wernert leads the team in kills with 115 and Dubenion stands at second with 70. Katie Koop has pushed up 182 assists, while Hannah Fenker has added 136. Stephanie Turner has scored 11 of East Carolina's 37 service aces on the year.
The Big Green of Dartmouth will begin its season on Friday afternoon against Akron. Dartmouth's roster of 12 features four freshmen and sophomores, just one junior and three seniors.
This weekend will mark the Pack's last foray into non-conference competition. Next Friday, Sept. 14, State will kick-start its ACC slate by hosting rival North Carolina at 7 p.m. at historic Reynolds Coliseum.
NC State Volleyball Promotions - Sept. 7-8
Friday, Sept. 7 - East Carolina vs. NC State - 7 p.m.
Residence Hall Night - free Crocs arm bands to students with ID's while supplies last
Jimmy John's "Dress Like the Pack" Contest
Molten Mini-Volleyball Toss
Trivia
Saturday, Sept. 8 - Dartmouth vs. NC State - 12 p.m.
Boys & Girls Club Appreciation
Jimmy John's "Dress Like the Pack" Contest
Molten Mini-Volleyball Toss
Trivia
Saturday, Sept. 8 - Akron vs. NC State - 7 p.m.
Middle School/High School Volleyball Team Appreciation
Jimmy John's "Dress Like the Pack" Contest
Molten Mini-Volleyball Toss
Trivia
