North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
9-1
Coastal Carolina
8-3
Wolfpack Volleyball Coasts Past Chanticleers, 3-0
9/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State women’s volleyball team collected its third sweep of the season with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-17) win over Coastal Carolina to open play in the Courtyard Midtown Invitational Friday evening inside Reynolds Coliseum.
With the win, the Wolfpack improves to 9-1 on the season, while the Chanticleers fall to 8-3.
Bunn’s Beat
Opening Statement…
“We played very well offensively tonight,” said head coach Bryan Bunn. “We hit .392 as a team and only had about 10 percent hitting errors, so it was a very good performance from the team tonight.”
On balanced offense, having six players with five or more kills…
“We moved the ball around well tonight. Maggie [Speaks] did a good of distributing the ball and getting everyone involved.”
On the play of Maggie Speaks…
“She does a good job of distributing the ball. Offensively, she’s a threat at the net because she’s a good size setter, so teams have to be aware that she’s in the front row. She was able to take advantage of that a couple times tonight with six kills at the net.”
Worth Noting
- NC State has now won nine consecutive matches, which is the longest win streak for the squad since the 2012 season when the squad won 10 matches in a row.
- Friday’s contest was the third all-time meeting between the schools and the Wolfpack now leads the series, 2-1.
- The two teams played even to begin the first set, before NC State won four consecutive points to take a 14-11 lead. The squad went on to win the set, 25-19, while registering a .387 hitting percentage in the frame, while limiting Coastal to a .067 clip.
- Senior Alesha Wilson had a great first set, swatting six kills on just seven swings to record an attacking percentage of .857.
- The Chanticleers went up 16-14 in the second set, before the Wolfpack roared back on an 11-5 run to win the set, 25-21. Dariyan Hopper and Rachel Buckley had five kills apiece in the set to lead the Pack.
- The Wolfpack raced out to an 8-3 lead and never trailed in the third frame nor was the score tied, as the squad cruised to win the set, 25-17. The Pack hit .343 in the frame with Buckley recording five kills.
Key Performers
- Buckley led the offensive attack with a match-high 13 kills and a .478 hitting percentage. Hopper recorded nine kills and a .400 attacking average, while freshman Kaitlyn Kearney and Wilson had eight kills apiece.
- At the setter position, Speaks continued her excellent start to the season, as she notched 38 assists to go along with six kills, four digs and one block.
- Defensively, Alston Kearns recorded a match-high 10 digs, while Rachel Eppley added eight. Senior Nikki Glass and freshman Emily Harris each chipped in with five.
Quoting the Players
Senior Rachel Buckley
On her performance tonight…
“I wanted to come out and play loose tonight and have fun. Last weekend, I struggled but I knew that I had to come back this weekend and just trust my abilities and the training that we’ve been doing.”
On the play of team at this point in the season…
“I think we’re strong offensively and defensively right now. The offense can’t happen without the defense. We’re taking care of the ball and everyone did a great job of knowing when to go for the kill and when to play the ball in so we can play defense. I’m really pleased with the way we’re playing right now.”
Sophomore Maggie Speaks
On her performance tonight…
“I think the passes were really consistent tonight, so we were able to move the ball around more. We ran with the middles a lot and when we needed to push it to the outside we did and the hitters took care of it.”
On the height of Coastal’s front line…
“They had some big blockers, so it all depended on who was at the net and me being able to see the block and try to confuse them. If she thinks I’m going one way then I tried to go the other, but it all depended on where the pass was and where the blockers were.”
Up Next
The Wolfpack will continue play in the Courtyard Midtown Invitational on Saturday inside Reynolds Coliseum, as the squad will face William & Mary at 1 p.m. The Pack will conclude the tournament with a 7 p.m., tilt against Howard.
