Friday, October 30
Raleigh, N.C. (Carmichael Gym)
7:30 PM
NC State
14-9, 3-8ACC
3
vs
2
Notre Dame
6-17, 1-10ACC
1
2
3
4
5
F
Notre Dame
25
25
18
19
14
2
NC State
23
22
25
25
16
3
Photo by: Greg Mintel
Wolfpack Volleyball Rallies for Five-Set Win Against Notre Dame
10/30/2015 11:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Junior Rachel Eppley records career high with 32 digs
RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State volleyball team overcame a slow start to earn a 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-18, 25-19, 16-14) come-from-behind win against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Friday night inside Carmichael Gym.
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The Wolfpack trailed 2-0 in the match, but dominated the second half of the match to win the third, fourth and fifth sets.
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NC State moves to 14-9 and 3-8 in ACC play, while Notre Dame falls to 6-17 and 1-10 in conference action.
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Worth Noting
- The comeback victory marked the second of its kind this season, as the Wolfpack also trailed Incarnate Word, 2-0, and rallied for a 3-2 win in that match also.
- Junior libero Rachel Eppley recorded a career-best 32 digs in the contest, while sophomore Julia Brown tallied a career-high 18 kills.
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Match Rewind
- Despite losing the first two sets, NC State played well in each of them but was edged down the stretch by the Irish.
- After the intermission, the Wolfpack came out firing on all cylinders. Leading 14-12 in the third set, NC State went on a 7-1 run to gain control of the frame and went on to win it, 25-18.
- The fourth set was tightly contested, as neither team was able to pull away. Tied 19-19, NC State reeled off six consecutive points to win the set, 25-19 and tie the match at two.
- A Notre Dame service error started the fifth set and the Wolfpack never relinquished the lead. The Fighting Irish tied the score three times and even fought off match point once, but never led in the set as NC State won it, 16-14, to secure the 3-2 victory.
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Top Performers
- Brown headlined a very strong offensive performance for the Pack with 18 kills, while classmate Perry Ramsey contributed 15 kills and 10 digs to chart her third double-double performance of the season.
- Freshman Blayke Hranicka swatted 15 kills as well and sophomore Kaitlyn Kearney put down 13 kills to go along with nine blocks.
- At the setter position, freshman Becky Porter dished out a match-high 42 assists and also chipped in with six digs.
- Aside from Eppley's career day in digs with 32, Ramsey had 10 and senior Tanna Aljoe had nine.
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Quoting The Players
Rachel Eppley
On tonight's win over Notre Dame…
"The first two sets were rough, but then we started fighting and had a lot of energy and passion. It felt awesome because everyone was on the same page and everyone wanted to win."
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On career-high 32 digs…
"I felt good. I felt that I did my job and that I was aggressive. I also felt that my team trusted me which made me feel more confident."
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On team adjustments after second set
"We talked about how much we love volleyball and that we needed to start acting like we do and play like it, and that sparked a fire."
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Becky Porter
On entering the match at setter…
"I think we just needed a fresh body out there to bring up the energy and lift people up. That's what I wanted to do and it worked."
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On setting strategy…
"I was just trying to get it to whoever was ready and was up. Everyone was killing it though so I felt that I could get it to everyone tonight."
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Up Next
NC State will return to action Sunday at 1 p.m. when it hosts 23rd-ranked Louisville. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. inside Carmichael Gym.
#STATEment
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The Wolfpack trailed 2-0 in the match, but dominated the second half of the match to win the third, fourth and fifth sets.
Â
NC State moves to 14-9 and 3-8 in ACC play, while Notre Dame falls to 6-17 and 1-10 in conference action.
Â
Worth Noting
- The comeback victory marked the second of its kind this season, as the Wolfpack also trailed Incarnate Word, 2-0, and rallied for a 3-2 win in that match also.
- Junior libero Rachel Eppley recorded a career-best 32 digs in the contest, while sophomore Julia Brown tallied a career-high 18 kills.
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Match Rewind
- Despite losing the first two sets, NC State played well in each of them but was edged down the stretch by the Irish.
- After the intermission, the Wolfpack came out firing on all cylinders. Leading 14-12 in the third set, NC State went on a 7-1 run to gain control of the frame and went on to win it, 25-18.
- The fourth set was tightly contested, as neither team was able to pull away. Tied 19-19, NC State reeled off six consecutive points to win the set, 25-19 and tie the match at two.
- A Notre Dame service error started the fifth set and the Wolfpack never relinquished the lead. The Fighting Irish tied the score three times and even fought off match point once, but never led in the set as NC State won it, 16-14, to secure the 3-2 victory.
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Top Performers
- Brown headlined a very strong offensive performance for the Pack with 18 kills, while classmate Perry Ramsey contributed 15 kills and 10 digs to chart her third double-double performance of the season.
- Freshman Blayke Hranicka swatted 15 kills as well and sophomore Kaitlyn Kearney put down 13 kills to go along with nine blocks.
- At the setter position, freshman Becky Porter dished out a match-high 42 assists and also chipped in with six digs.
- Aside from Eppley's career day in digs with 32, Ramsey had 10 and senior Tanna Aljoe had nine.
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Quoting The Players
Rachel Eppley
On tonight's win over Notre Dame…
"The first two sets were rough, but then we started fighting and had a lot of energy and passion. It felt awesome because everyone was on the same page and everyone wanted to win."
Â
On career-high 32 digs…
"I felt good. I felt that I did my job and that I was aggressive. I also felt that my team trusted me which made me feel more confident."
Â
On team adjustments after second set
"We talked about how much we love volleyball and that we needed to start acting like we do and play like it, and that sparked a fire."
Â
Becky Porter
On entering the match at setter…
"I think we just needed a fresh body out there to bring up the energy and lift people up. That's what I wanted to do and it worked."
Â
On setting strategy…
"I was just trying to get it to whoever was ready and was up. Everyone was killing it though so I felt that I could get it to everyone tonight."
Â
Up Next
NC State will return to action Sunday at 1 p.m. when it hosts 23rd-ranked Louisville. First serve is slated for 1 p.m. inside Carmichael Gym.
#STATEment
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Team Stats
ND
ST
Kills
54
71
Errors
23
21
Attempts
158
160
Hitting %
.196
.313
Points
69.0
91.0
Assists
46
68
Aces
8
6
Blocks
7.0
14.0
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
15
Aces
1
Blocks
4
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
9
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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