North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Morehead State
Volleyball Claims Hilton RTP Invitational Title
9/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2010
RALEIGH, N.C. -
NC State volleyball exploded offensively to claim an emphatic 3-0 victory over Morehead State Saturday, Sept. 11 in the final game of the Hilton RTP Invitational. The win moves the Wolfpack to 8-1 in the 2010 season, equaling the 2009 season total.
The Wolfpack offense had its best outing of the season, hitting at an incredible .466 clip on the match while recording 47 total kills.
“We are looking to hit about .250,” says first year head coach Bryan Bunn. “If you can hit .250 as a team, you’re doing a solid job. So, to hit .460 tonight was great.”
Becah Fogle paced the dominant Pack offense, drilling 13 kills while hitting at a .444 clip. Luciana Shafer recorded a double-double, earning 10 kills and 11 digs in the match. Margaret Salata continued to hit the ball well, hitting .692 and earning nine kills.
Megan Cyr led the squad in assists for the ninth time this season, dishing out 41.
“Megan Cyr did a great job distributing the ball tonight,” says Bunn. “She mixed it up. They had no idea where she was going to set it.”
NC State excelled on defense as well, led by Shafer and libero Kelly Wood, who each gathered 11 digs. The squad also scored nine total blocks, including six by Salata, one of which was a solo effort.
The Pack was hitting on all cylinders in the match, beginning with complete dominance in the first set, when the squad jumped out to a 8-2 lead before forcing a Morehead State timeout. NC State’s largest lead was 20-9 following back-to-back Salata service aces. The Wolfpack took the set by a final score of 25-13.
In the second set, the Eagles came out playing well, taking a 5-1 lead before the Wolfpack began to settle in. There were two ties in the game, but the Pack prevailed, winning 25-19.
The third set was a back-and-forth battle, including six ties and one lead change. However, NC State’s dominant offense carried the squad. The Pack took the set 25-15.
For their outstanding efforts in the tournament, Salata and Cyr were named to the Hilton RTP Invitational all-tournament team. Fogle garnered MVP honors, the first of her NC State career.
NC State returns to action Sept. 17 to take on UNC Wilmington in the UNC Wilmington Tournament at 7 p.m. There, the Pack will also face Campbell (Sept. 18, 1:30 p.m.) and Elon (Sept. 18, 4:30 p.m.).
The Pack returns to Reynolds Coliseum Sept. 21 to open ACC play by taking on the UNC Tarheels at 7 p.m.
