North Carolina State University Athletics
State Volleyball Hosts Syracuse in ACC Opener on Friday
9/25/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Match #13 - Syracuse (7-5, 0-0 ACC) vs. NC State (11-1, 0-0 ACC)
When - Friday, Sept. 26
Where - Reynolds Coliseum
Time - 7 p.m.
Live Stream - GoPack All-Access (Free)
Live Stats - Gametracker
Match Notes | Twitter Updates
RALEIGH, N.C. - The NC State women's volleyball team will look to start its conference slate on a winning note, when the Wolfpack opens ACC play at home on Friday, Sept. 26 against Syracuse. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. inside Reynolds Coliseum.
The Wolfpack enters Friday's contest with an 11-1 record on the season, following a very successful nonconference slate that included three tournament titles. State went undefeated in its final three nonconference tournaments to win the Courtyard Midtown Classic, Georgia Benson Hospitality Invitational and the Courtyard Midtown Invitational.
MATCH PROMOTIONS
The first 200 fans into Friday's match will receive set one of the NC State Volleyball trading cards, which includes all of the freshmen on the squad. There will also be a post-match autograph session where fans will have a chance to get the 2014 poster signed by the players.
Admission to the match is free and it will also be a Student Wolfpack Club event.
LAST TIME OUT
In its last action, NC State swept the Howard Lady Bison in straight sets, 3-0, to conclude play in the Courtyard Midtown Invitational and earn the tournament title. The Pack did not drop a set at the event, winning all three matches by a 3-0 score.
BUNN IN ACC OPENERS
Now in his fifth season as the head coach of the Wolfpack, Bryan Bunn has compiled a 2-2 record in conference openers. The last time the Pack opened ACC play at home it defeated North Carolina, 3-1, on Sept. 14, 2012.
9/25/13 at North Carolina (L, 3-0)
9/14/12 North Carolina (W, 3-1)
9/23/11 at Boston College (W, 3-0)
9/21/10 North Carolina (L, 3-0)
HOT STREAK
After dropping the first match of the season, NC State responded by winning its next 11 matches and is currently on an 11-match win streak. During that span, the squad has served the ball much better and significantly decreased the number of errors committed.
The streak is just two shy of the school record for consecutive wins, set by the 2011 squad that won 13 matches in a row. State has won 33 sets, while limiting its opponents to eight during the winning streak earning five sweeps, four 3-1 wins and two 3-2 decisions.
BUCKLE(Y) YOUR SEATBELTS
Senior right side hitter Rachel Buckley has been on a tear during the nonconference portion of the schedule to lead the squad in kills with 128. The power that the Carrollton, Texas, native delivers on her swing makes it difficult for opposing teams to return and as a result she has had great success killing the ball.
She garnered MVP honors at both of the tournaments that NC State hosted this season, the Courtyard Midtown Classic and Invitational.
BACK-TO-BACK ACC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONORS
Kaitlyn Kearney, a middle blocker from Frisco, Texas, captured her second consecutive ACC Freshman of the Week honor on Monday. She tallied 27 kills last weekend, the second-most among players from any team competing in the event.
She garnered the weekly mention for the first time this season last Monday (9/15), following a standout performance at the Georgia Invitational in which Kearney earned MVP honors. The rookie had 36 kills over the course of three matches and recorded a .403 hitting percentage.
SCOUTING SYRACUSE
The Syracuse Orange enter Friday's contest with a 7-5 record on the season, after posting a 2-1 mark at a tournament it hosted last weekend. The squad defeated Albany and Cornell, but dropped a 3-2 decision against Colgate.
NC State and Syracuse have met six times in the history of the two programs with the Wolfpack owning a 5-1 series lead. State won the lone matchup between the schools as conference opponents last season in Syracuse, 3-1.
Junior outside hitter Silvi Uattara leads the Orange offensively with 171 kills, an average of 3.64 kills per set. Classmate Gosia Wlaszczuk is the team's setter and has dished out 352 assists or 7.49 assists per set. Defensively, senior Melina Violas has collected 2.71 digs per set from her libero position.
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