North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
12-2 (1-1ACC)
Wake Forest
12-5 (2-1ACC)
Pack Volleyball's Win Streak Snapped at 12
10/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The NC State women’s volleyball team saw its 12-match win streak come to a close on Friday night, after suffering a 3-2 (25-20, 25-22, 25-27, 21-25, 12-15) loss against Wake Forest inside Reynolds Gym. The Wolfpack raced out to a 2-0 lead in the match, but the Demon Deacons rallied to win the final three sets.
State falls to 12-2 overall and 1-1 in ACC play, while Wake improves to 12-5 and 2-1 in conference play.
Worth Noting
- NC State suffered its first loss since Aug. 29, ending its win streak at 12 matches.
- The Wolfpack’s 12-match win streak was the second longest for the program.
- State had five different players record double-digit kills for the first time this season.
Turning Point of the Match
- Wake Forest fought off match point two different times in the third set, before winning the set, 27-25, and used that momentum throughout the match.
Match Rewind
- The Pack jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the first set, forcing the Deacs’ to take an early timeout. NC State led the remainder of the frame and used a 6-2 run to win the first set, 25-20.
- Senior Rachel Buckley led the squad with four kills in the first frame, as the Wolfpack hit .290.
- In the second set, freshman Kaitlyn Kearney paced the squad with five kills and a .444 hitting percentage. State utilized a 7-2 run to give the squad set point and won the frame on a kill from Kearney, 25-22.
- The final three sets were tightly contested, but Wake Forest was able to win each frame.
- Wake Forest led early in the third set, but NC State slowly chipped away at the lead to tie the score at 20. The Demon Deacons closed out the set on a 5-1 run that included fighting off match point twice.
- Wake won the fourth set, 25-21, before edging the Wolfpack in the final set, 15-12.
Key Performers
- Kearney led a balanced offensive attack for the Wolfpack with 16 kills and a .433 attacking percentage. Senior Alesha Wilson had her best performance of the season, putting down 13 kills in the contest.
- Freshman Perry Ramsey and Buckley each swatted 12 kills in the match, while senior Dariyan Hopper also reached double figures with 10 kills. Hopper surpassed the 1,000 career kills mark in the match and now has 1,005 to her credit.
- Sophomore setter Maggie Speaks dished out a career best 54 assists, to go along with six digs, two kills and two blocks.
- Defensively, senior Alston Kearns paced the team with 14 digs and sophomore Rachel Eppley chipped in with 13.
- Kearney also had an excellent match defensively, registering a career and match high 12 blocks on the night, including a solo block.
Up Next
The Wolfpack will have a quick turnaround as the squad travels to Virginia Tech on Saturday for a 6 p.m. contest inside Cassell Coliseum.
