Volleyball Suffers First Loss of 2016 Against TCU

Friday, August 26

Fort Worth, Texas (University Recreation Center)

8 P.M.

NC State

1-1

(RV) TCU

1-0

Team	1	2	3	Final F
NC State	18	23	22	0
TCU	25	25	25	3

Photo by: Sharon Ellman

Volleyball Suffers First Loss of 2016 Against TCU

8/26/2016 10:39:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

Junior Julia Brown leads all players with 16 kills in the contest

FORT WORTH, Texas – The NC State volleyball team suffered its first loss of the 2016 season Friday night against the TCU Horned Frogs, 3-0 (25-18, 25-23, 25-22), inside the University Recreation Center.

TCU, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season and is receiving votes for the top-25 poll, moves to 1-0 on the year, while NC State falls to 1-1. The Wolfpack played well and battled the Horned Frogs, but was edged at the close of each set.

Quoting Hampton-Keith
Opening statement…
"Despite the outcome I thought the match was closer than indicated. Our team did some really great things in a challenging environment. Set 2 was a glimpse of some high-level volleyball on both sides and I'm very proud of how this team responded."

On Julia Brown's performance…
"Julia had a fantastic match tonight. What was impressive about her was that she maintained a high level throughout the night. She played well over time, which was something our team set out to focus on."

Match Rewind
- NC State and TCU both started the first set strong, as neither team led by more than two points until the Horned Frogs took a 12-9 advantage.
- After a service error by the Frogs, TCU scored five unanswered points to gain control of the frame and was able to hold off a late surge by the Wolfpack to win the set, 25-18.
- In the second set, the score was tied 17 times and the lead changed six times as both teams battled for the advantage.
- With the score knotted at 22, TCU won three of the next four points to claim the set, 25-23.
- NC State turned in its best offensive performance of the evening in the second frame, as the Wolfpack hit .350 as a team.
- The Pack opened the third set with a big combination block by Teni Sopitan and Lauryn Terry, but TCU countered with a 4-0 run to take the lead.
- A 6-2 run allowed the Frogs to extend their lead to 15-10, but NC State did not go away.
- Julia Brown swatted three consecutive kills to try and pull the Wolfpack closer in the set, but TCU went on to win the third set, 25-22, and the match, 3-0.

Top Performers
- Brown had a very strong offensive night, leading all players with 16 kills to go along with a .314 attacking percentage.
- Classmate Perry Ramsey had eight kills and Kaitlyn Kearney chipped in with four.
- Maggie Speaks, a senior setter, handed out a match-high 27 assists and also collected nine digs and three kills.
- Defensively, senior Rachel Eppley led the Wolfpack with 13 digs. Brown also pitched in with nine digs.

Up Next
NC State returns to action Saturday at 2 p.m. when it takes on Arkansas State at the TCU Invitational.