Wolfpack Volleyball Welcomes Miami, No. 16 Florida State This Weekend

Friday, October 7

Raleigh, N.C.

7 P.M.

NC State

Miami

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Photo by: Karl DeBlaker

Wolfpack Volleyball Welcomes Miami, No. 16 Florida State This Weekend

10/6/2016 8:46:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

@PackVball

NC State readies for pair of home matches

Weekend Schedule
Friday, Oct. 7
Miami | 7 p.m. | Reynolds Coliseum
Live Video | Live Stats | Twitter

Sunday, Oct. 9
#16 Florida State | 1 p.m. | Reynolds Coliseum
Live Video | Live Stats | Twitter

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State women's volleyball team welcomes a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponents from the Sunshine State to Reynolds Coliseum this weekend. The Wolfpack takes on Miami at 7 p.m. Friday and No. 16 Florida State Sunday at 1 p.m.

Both matches will be broadcast live on the ACC Network Extra, accessible through Watch ESPN and the Watch ESPN App.

NC State enters the weekend with a 9-7 overall record and 2-2 mark in ACC play. The Miami Hurricanes are 7-9 and 1-3 in league action, while the Seminoles own an 11-2 overall mark and 4-0 clip in conference play.

Last Time Out
The Pack dropped a 3-0 decision at Georgia Tech in its most recent outing on Sunday.

Among the ACC Ranks
NC State is among the top five of the ACC in five team categories. The Wolfpack is second with 12.83 assists per set, third in digs per set with 16.15, fourth in hitting percentage (.221) and fourth in opponent hitting percentage (.175). Additionally, NCSU is fifth in the ACC with 13.44 kills per set.

Senior setter Maggie Speaks is second in the league with 10.73 aps, while junior outside hitter Julia Brown is fourth in the ACC with 3.91 kills per set.

Rachel Eppley, the squad's senior libero, leads the Wolfpack and is seventh in the conference with 4.15 digs per set.

Lucky Number Two
NC State has won the second set in 11 of its 16 matches this season. The Wolfpack has scored 373 points in the frame, the most in any set in 2016, and has allowed 306 points, the largest margin in a set.

The Pack has won the second set in eight of its nine wins in 2016.

Tale of the Tape
The Wolfpack has posted a 7-1 record this season when recording more blocks than its opponent. In contrast, NC State has lost six of seven matches when being out-blocked and is 1-0 when blocks are equal.

The Higher, The Better
NC State has tallied more kills than its opponent in all nine wins this season. The Pack has lost just two matches when recording more kills.

In addition, NCSU's hitting percentage has been higher than opponents in eight of its nine victories.

Scouting Miami
The Miami Hurricanes are the owners of a 7-9 overall record and a 1-3 mark in ACC play. The 'Canes dropped a 3-1 decision at home against the Syracuse Orange in their most recent outing on Sunday.

NC State and Miami met only once last season, with the Hurricanes winning a hard-fought match in Raleigh, 3-2. The Wolfpack led that contest, 2-1, but Miami rallied for the five-set win.

Junior outside hitter Olga Strantzali leads the team and the conference with 4.53 kills per set, which also ranks 15^th in the NCAA. Miami has been without the services of its preseason All-ACC setter Haley Templeton due to injury. In her absence, Hannah Sorensen has dished out 9.92 assists per set. The Hurricanes have a balanced defense, headlined by Sylvia Hernandez with 3.17 digs per set.

Miami has a team attacking percentage of .206 and opponents have a .247 clip.

Scouting #16 Florida State
Florida State heads into the weekend ranked 16^th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll with an 11-2 record and a 4-0 tally in conference action. FSU has won five consecutive matches, including a 3-0 sweep against Boston College at home in its last outing.

The Seminoles will take on UNC-Chapel Hill Friday before facing NC State Sunday at 1 p.m. Last year, the Wolfpack was dealt a 3-1 loss on its home court by the 'Noles in its lone matchup of the season.

Milica Kubura leads the Florida State offense with 3.12 kills per set, while Katie Horton has put down 2.79 kps. At the setter position, Brianne Burkert and Hailey Luke have split time with the former handing out 6.60 assists per set and the latter 5.40 aps. Defensively, Melanie Keil leads the ACC with 1.62 blocks per set.

Florida State has a team hitting percentage of .272 and has limited opponents to a .179 clip.

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