
Photo by: Jeff Camarati
NC State Volleyball Falls at No. 6 UNC-Chapel Hill
11/16/2016 5:33:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Despite holding sixth-ranked UNC-Chapel Hill without a service ace for the first time this season, the NC State volleyball team dropped a 3-0 (25-16, 25-11, 25-20) decision Wednesday night inside Carmichael Arena.
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The Wolfpack falls to 17-12 and 10-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, while the Tar Heels improve to 24-3 and 16-1 in the conference.
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It was the first time this season that NC State has not allowed an opponent to record a service ace during a match and the first time UNC has been held without an ace this year. Additionally, the Tar Heels had not been held without an ace in a match since Oct. 11, 2013, which was a 3-0 loss for the squad at home versus Duke.
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Quoting Hampton-Keith
Overall thoughts…
"We're disappointed with our effort overall," said head coach Linda Hampton-Keith. "We had moments that we played well but just a few moments of good play doesn't win you volleyball matches. We talk about being good over the course of time and tonight we just didn't give ourselves a chance to do that."
On the team's passing, not allowing a service ace…
"I thought our passing was one of the better parts of our game tonight and Rachel Eppley did an exceptional job overall. She did a good job defensively and made sure our serve receive was working."
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Match Rewind
- Sixth-ranked UNC started fast in the match, as the Tar Heels raced out to an 8-2 lead in the first set.
- A 3-0 run by NC State cut the deficit to 15-11, but UNC scored four consecutive points to halt the comeback and went on to win the set, 25-16.
- The Wolfpack started slow in the second set, but countered quickly by winning seven of eight points to knot the score at 9-9 after a Heels attacking error.
- Unfortunately for NC State, the high-powered Tar Heels countered with seven unanswered points to extend their lead to 16-9 en route to the 25-11 second-set win.
- Both teams started well in the third set, as it was even early at 3-3 until the Tar Heels won five of the next six points to take an 8-5 lead.
- NC State looked to make a run several times in the frame, but UNC had an answer each time.
- Trailing 16-10, the Wolfpack won three of the next four points to trim the deficit to 17-13 after a kill by Kaitlyn Kearney but a kill by the Tar Heels followed.
- The teams traded points down the stretch with NCSU fighting off two match point opportunities before the Tar Heels were able to convert to clinch the victory.
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Top Performers
- Sophomore Teni Sopitan led NC State offensively with 10 kills, while junior Julia Brown tallied six along with classmate Kearney.
- Freshman Jessica Kemp turned in a strong performance with five kills on eight attempts without an error to record a match-high .625 attacking percentage.
- At setter, senior Maggie Speaks led all players with 25 assists to go along with four kills and four digs.
- Defensively, Rachel Eppley collected 14 digs to lead the Pack and Brown pitched in with eight.
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Up Next
NC State returns to action at home Sunday afternoon when the squad welcomes the Virginia Cavaliers to Reynolds Coliseum. First serve is slated for 2 p.m. and the contest will be broadcast live on the ACC Network Extra.
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The Wolfpack falls to 17-12 and 10-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, while the Tar Heels improve to 24-3 and 16-1 in the conference.
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It was the first time this season that NC State has not allowed an opponent to record a service ace during a match and the first time UNC has been held without an ace this year. Additionally, the Tar Heels had not been held without an ace in a match since Oct. 11, 2013, which was a 3-0 loss for the squad at home versus Duke.
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Quoting Hampton-Keith
Overall thoughts…
"We're disappointed with our effort overall," said head coach Linda Hampton-Keith. "We had moments that we played well but just a few moments of good play doesn't win you volleyball matches. We talk about being good over the course of time and tonight we just didn't give ourselves a chance to do that."
On the team's passing, not allowing a service ace…
"I thought our passing was one of the better parts of our game tonight and Rachel Eppley did an exceptional job overall. She did a good job defensively and made sure our serve receive was working."
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Match Rewind
- Sixth-ranked UNC started fast in the match, as the Tar Heels raced out to an 8-2 lead in the first set.
- A 3-0 run by NC State cut the deficit to 15-11, but UNC scored four consecutive points to halt the comeback and went on to win the set, 25-16.
- The Wolfpack started slow in the second set, but countered quickly by winning seven of eight points to knot the score at 9-9 after a Heels attacking error.
- Unfortunately for NC State, the high-powered Tar Heels countered with seven unanswered points to extend their lead to 16-9 en route to the 25-11 second-set win.
- Both teams started well in the third set, as it was even early at 3-3 until the Tar Heels won five of the next six points to take an 8-5 lead.
- NC State looked to make a run several times in the frame, but UNC had an answer each time.
- Trailing 16-10, the Wolfpack won three of the next four points to trim the deficit to 17-13 after a kill by Kaitlyn Kearney but a kill by the Tar Heels followed.
- The teams traded points down the stretch with NCSU fighting off two match point opportunities before the Tar Heels were able to convert to clinch the victory.
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Top Performers
- Sophomore Teni Sopitan led NC State offensively with 10 kills, while junior Julia Brown tallied six along with classmate Kearney.
- Freshman Jessica Kemp turned in a strong performance with five kills on eight attempts without an error to record a match-high .625 attacking percentage.
- At setter, senior Maggie Speaks led all players with 25 assists to go along with four kills and four digs.
- Defensively, Rachel Eppley collected 14 digs to lead the Pack and Brown pitched in with eight.
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Up Next
NC State returns to action at home Sunday afternoon when the squad welcomes the Virginia Cavaliers to Reynolds Coliseum. First serve is slated for 2 p.m. and the contest will be broadcast live on the ACC Network Extra.
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Team Stats
ST
NC
Kills
32
42
Errors
22
7
Attempts
105
95
Hitting %
.095
.368
Points
37.0
55.0
Assists
30
39
Aces
1
0
Blocks
4.0
13.0
Game Leaders
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