North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
13-8, 2-7ACC
Boston College
8-12, 3-6ACC
Wolfpack Volleyball Takes Down Eagles in Four Sets, 3-1
10/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State women's volleyball team used a strong defensive effort to defeat the Boston College Eagles, 3-1 (23-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-17), Sunday afternoon in Reynolds Coliseum. The Wolfpack out-blocked the Eagles, 13-7, and recorded 11 more digs than its opponent.
State moves to 13-8 overall and 2-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, while BC falls to 8-12 and 3-6 in league action.
Bunn's Beat
Opening Statement...
"There was a much better energy on the floor today than we've had in our last few matches," said head coach Bryan Bunn. "We did a much better job attacking the ball. I think Dariyan (Hopper) and Perry (Ramsey) both had double figure kills and Morgan (Cormier) had a high percentage."
On adjustments after losing first set...
"We started taking care of the ball a little better. We got off to a really slow start, we made a setter change and it changed the rhythm a little bit. Sometimes that's what it takes and we started playing a lot better."
Worth Noting
- NC State recorded a team hitting percentage of .241 and more importantly, limited Boston College to an .076 clip for the match.
- The Wolfpack is now a perfect 10-0 on the season when holding its opponent to a .200 attacking percentage or less.
- In the second set, State had an attacking percentage of .423 and limited BC to .000, as the Eagles committed seven errors.
- State's 13 blocks in the match are the most for the Pack this season in a four-set match.
Match Rewind
- In the first set, both teams struggled to find a rhythm offensively as NC State hit .064 and BC hit .053. With the score tied at 23, the Eagles scored back-to-back points to win the set, 25-23. Senior Dariyan Hopper led the Pack with five kills in the frame.
- The Wolfpack had one of its best offensive sets this season in the second frame, as the Pack tallied a .423 attacking percentage with 13 kills. Sophomore setter Maggie Speaks and freshman middle blocker Kaitlyn Kearney paced State in the set with three kills apiece.
- After Boston College opened the set with two quick points, NC State responded with a 4-1 run to take the lead and never relinquished. Leading 11-9, the Wolfpack went on a 12-3 run to put the set out of reach and cruised to win it, 25-14.
- The third set was a seesaw battle, as the score was tied six times and the lead changed three times. Trailing 21-19, NC State scored five unanswered points thanks to two kills from freshman Perry Ramsey and consecutive block assists by Kearney and Morgan Cormier.
- With the score knotted at nine in the fourth set, the Wolfpack went on a 5-0 run to stretch its lead to 14-9 and the Eagles were forced to use both of its timeouts during the span. Hopper capped a long rally with a kill to help the Wolfpack win the set, 25-17, and the match, 3-1.
Key Performers
- Hopper led the Wolfpack in kills with 14, highlighted by a hitting percentage of .393. Ramsey chipped in with 13 kills, while senior Alesha Wilson and Cormier each had eight.
- Sophomore Maggie Speaks dished out a match high 40 assists from her setter position, to go along with six kills and six digs.
- Defensively, sophomore Rachel Eppley paced the squad with 20 digs and freshman Emily Harris pitched in with 14. Kearney led the Pack with seven blocks, while Wilson added six.
Quoting the Players
Senior outside hitter Dariyan Hopper
On getting a win to break the losing streak...
"It was definitely nice to get a win. It's been a long streak and I think we needed it for our confidence, especially the younger girls. It was a good win."
On motivation to win today...
"I think we just talked about it a lot during timeouts. We let the coaches say what they had to say and then we came together as a team and said we need this win but we need all 18 of us whether you're on the court or off the court to have energy. That brings momentum to the game."
On the team's perseverance through long rallies...
"I think it shows that we have a drive and when we get confidence like that we know we can do anything, and going after those balls everyone was on the floor diving and that just shows we can do it. In games that we struggle we aren't going for those loose balls. I think sometimes the team thinks I can't get that ball, but when everyone is diving on the ground and getting bruised up it just shows that as soon as we get the confidence we can do anything."
Up Next
The Wolfpack will return to action at home on Friday, Oct. 31 when it hosts the fourth-ranked Florida State Seminoles. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. inside Reynolds Coliseum.
