North Carolina State University Athletics
Volleyball Trumps UNC for Emotional Win
11/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State volleyball team picked up a hard-fought 3-2 win over rival North Carolina on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at Reynolds Coliseum. The victory put the exclamation point on an emotional Senior Day in which the program bid farewell to seniors Allison Davis, Keri DeMar, Lisa Kretchman and Arlee Tamietti.
The decision gives the Wolfpack an 8-27 (1-19 ACC) record to end its season, while the Tar Heels finish at 15-16 (11-9 ACC).
“I’m really, really excited about what took place today,” said head coach Charita J. Stubbs. “When the season began we talked about having faith and putting ourselves in a position to be the best that we can be.
“We had a lot of five-game matches early on that we were in a position to win, but came up short. At the beginning of the fifth set today, the team talked about how they’ve been in that situation before. We had our best week of practice all season this week, and we just knew that we were going to win.”
Kretchman (15) and DeMar (14) made the most of their collegiate finales, combining for 29 of the team’s 56 kills. Alex Smith lifted 39 set assists, while four netters – Lindsay Benac (28), Kelly Wood (26), DeMar (10) and Smith (10) – recorded double-digit dig totals. Isis Gardner roped in seven total blocks, while Smith and Wood each landed one service ace.
Smith’s 39 assists push her career total to 2,667, moving her into fourth-place all-time in the Wolfpack record book.
North Carolina aided the Pack’s scoring efforts, racking up 12 errors on serve.
UNC grabbed the opening tally by a 22-25 score, rolling out to an early 2-8 advantage. The Pack fought back and continued to chip away at Carolina’s lead, eventually getting to within two late a 21-23, but the Tar Heels grabbed two of the next three scores.
The Pack made several adjustments and came out on the winning end of a 25-23 second set, withstanding four lead changes and 10 tied scores. The Tar Heels hit a match-low .023 with 10 attack errors, yet still managed to tie things up late at 23-all. It didn’t matter however, as consecutive Emily McGee attack errors gave the Pack the final two points it needed.
NC State then took a 2-1 led by claming the third set 25-22. Both teams kept things close - tying the score seven times - and leading into a 22-22 deadlock down the stretch, but one UNC attack error and two kills held the Tar Heels off and pushed the Pack even closer to picking up the win.
It turned out that Carolina wouldn’t go down easily, rolling to a fast 10-25 decision in the fourth frame. UNC (.344) and NC State (-.091) hit at opposite ends of the spectrum, with the Pack converting just five kills alongside eight attack errors.
The Wolfpack refused to let this one get away, sprinting out to a 9-2 lead in the shortened fifth and final set. Several UNC mini-runs kept play going, eventually extending the match on a DeMar attack error at 14-14. But Gardner and Wood stepped up on the next two serves, each recording kills to secure a win for the Pack.
“I’m so proud of this team,” said Stubbs. “They never faltered and believed until the very end of the season. To get this win at home on Senior Day is huge.”
The decision gives the Wolfpack an 8-27 (1-19 ACC) record to end its season, while the Tar Heels finish at 15-16 (11-9 ACC).
“I’m really, really excited about what took place today,” said head coach Charita J. Stubbs. “When the season began we talked about having faith and putting ourselves in a position to be the best that we can be.
“We had a lot of five-game matches early on that we were in a position to win, but came up short. At the beginning of the fifth set today, the team talked about how they’ve been in that situation before. We had our best week of practice all season this week, and we just knew that we were going to win.”
Kretchman (15) and DeMar (14) made the most of their collegiate finales, combining for 29 of the team’s 56 kills. Alex Smith lifted 39 set assists, while four netters – Lindsay Benac (28), Kelly Wood (26), DeMar (10) and Smith (10) – recorded double-digit dig totals. Isis Gardner roped in seven total blocks, while Smith and Wood each landed one service ace.
Smith’s 39 assists push her career total to 2,667, moving her into fourth-place all-time in the Wolfpack record book.
North Carolina aided the Pack’s scoring efforts, racking up 12 errors on serve.
UNC grabbed the opening tally by a 22-25 score, rolling out to an early 2-8 advantage. The Pack fought back and continued to chip away at Carolina’s lead, eventually getting to within two late a 21-23, but the Tar Heels grabbed two of the next three scores.
The Pack made several adjustments and came out on the winning end of a 25-23 second set, withstanding four lead changes and 10 tied scores. The Tar Heels hit a match-low .023 with 10 attack errors, yet still managed to tie things up late at 23-all. It didn’t matter however, as consecutive Emily McGee attack errors gave the Pack the final two points it needed.
NC State then took a 2-1 led by claming the third set 25-22. Both teams kept things close - tying the score seven times - and leading into a 22-22 deadlock down the stretch, but one UNC attack error and two kills held the Tar Heels off and pushed the Pack even closer to picking up the win.
It turned out that Carolina wouldn’t go down easily, rolling to a fast 10-25 decision in the fourth frame. UNC (.344) and NC State (-.091) hit at opposite ends of the spectrum, with the Pack converting just five kills alongside eight attack errors.
The Wolfpack refused to let this one get away, sprinting out to a 9-2 lead in the shortened fifth and final set. Several UNC mini-runs kept play going, eventually extending the match on a DeMar attack error at 14-14. But Gardner and Wood stepped up on the next two serves, each recording kills to secure a win for the Pack.
“I’m so proud of this team,” said Stubbs. “They never faltered and believed until the very end of the season. To get this win at home on Senior Day is huge.”
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