Wolfpack Volleyball Takes Down SMU in Five-Set Thriller

Saturday, September 10

Raleigh, N.C.

7 P.M.

NC State

6-4

SMU

5-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
SMU	25	18	25	13	3	2
NC State	20	25	18	25	15	3

Photo by: Greg Mintel

Wolfpack Volleyball Takes Down SMU in Five-Set Thriller

9/10/2016 10:40:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

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Senior Maggie Speaks breaks the rally-scoring era record for assists in a match with 64

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State volleyball team made a #STATEment Saturday night inside Reynolds Coliseum, rallying from an early deficit to win a five-set thriller against a very tough SMU team, 3-2 (20-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-13, 15-3).

The Wolfpack improves to 6-4 on the year, while the Mustangs, which advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2015 and finished with a 27-6 record, fell to 5-4.

After SMU took a 2-1 lead in the match, NC State came roaring back to win the fourth set, 25-13, and was absolutely dominant in the fifth set to win it, 15-3, and the match, 3-2.

Worth Noting
- Senior setter Maggie Speaks set the program's rally-scoring era record with 64 assists in the contest, eclipsing the previous mark of 59.
- Junior Julia Brown and sophomore Teni Sopitan garnered a spot on the Wolfpack Invitational All-Tournament Team.
- NC State had four players notch double-digit kills in the contest, the first time this season the Wolfpack has accomplished the feat.
- The Wolfpack recorded an attacking percentage of .556 in the fifth set with 11 kills and only one error, while tallying a perfect 100 percent sideout rate.

Match Rewind
- After dropping the first set, the Wolfpack responded in the second set with a 25-18 set-win to even the score at one set apiece in the match.
- NC State used a 5-1 run to gain an early lead at 11-7 and used a 6-2 run to extend the lead late in the frame to 22-16 and went on to win the frame.
- The Pack's offense was stellar in the set, as the Red and White notched 19 kills with a .417 attacking percentage to go along with a 72 percent sideout rate.
- SMU countered with a strong third set to retake the lead, 2-1, but from there it was all NC State.
- The Mustangs grabbed a quick 2-0 advantage in the fourth set, but the Wolfpack roared back with five unanswered points and never trailed again in the frame.
- NC State took control of the set with an 8-1 run to extend the lead to 16-7 resulting in a SMU timeout, but it didn't interrupt the Wolfpack's rhythm.
- The Wolfpack hit .400 as a team in the fourth set and had 15 kills.
- NCSU would not be denied in the fifth set, as the Wolfpack was absolutely dominant to win it 15-3.
- With the score knotted at two, NC State scored nine consecutive points thanks to some strong serving by Emily Harris to grab an 11-2 lead.
- Following a quick point from SMU, the Wolfpack reeled off four unanswered points to close out the set and the match.

Top Performers
- Brown led the NC State offense with 21 kills, while Sopitan finished a close second with 18.
- Junior Kaitlyn Kearney was also stellar in the match, putting down 15 kills to go along with a .393 attacking percentage.
- At setter, Speaks tallied another double-double performance with the aforementioned 64 assists and 15 digs.
- Four players reached double figure digs for the Wolfpack defense. Senior Rachel Eppley led the way with 18, while Brown and Harris charted 14 and 12, respectively.
- Freshman Lauryn Terry recorded a career-best seven blocks in the contest.

Up Next
NC State will return to action next weekend when it welcomes the Campbell Camels to Reynolds Coliseum. First serve is slated for 6 p.m.

#STATEment