Wolfpack Volleyball Falls to #3 Florida in Puerto Rico Clasico

Saturday, September 2

Bayamon, P.R. (Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez)

8:30 P.M.

NC State

0-4

#3 Florida

3-0

Team	1	2	3	Final F
NC State	17	16	22	0
Florida	25	25	25	3

Wolfpack Volleyball Falls to #3 Florida in Puerto Rico Clasico

9/2/2017 11:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

Freshman Melissa Evans notches fourth consecutive match with double-digit kills

BAYAMON, P.R. – The NC State volleyball team fell to the third-ranked Florida Gators, 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-22) Saturday evening inside the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez as part of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) – Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Challenge.

The Gators, which defeated top-ranked Texas and No. 5 Nebraska on opening weekend, improve to 3-0 on the year. NC State falls to 0-4 with each of its losses in 2017 versus teams picked to win their respective conferences and also NCAA Tournament teams from a season ago.

Quoting Hampton-Keith
Overall thoughts…
"Clearly we're disappointed in the outcome of the match, but more importantly we're disappointed in not taking advantage of the opportunity to showcase our strengths as a team," said head coach Linda Hampton-Keith.

"We will need continue to stay focused on our process and working towards our long-term goals. I'm looking forward to seeing us step up to the challenges ahead of us."

On freshman Melissa Evans…
"Melissa Evans continues to impress with her performances match after match. She certainly isn't playing like a freshman."

Match Rewind
- No. 3 Florida started fast in the contest, as the Gators jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the first set but the Wolfpack settled in and battled to trim the advantage to 11-8 after four consecutive points.
- A solo block from senior Kaitlyn Kearney narrowed the NC State deficit to 16-12, but Florida countered from there and won the set, 25-17.
- The Pack opened strong in the second set, as a block by Bree Bailey and Teni Sopitan along with a kill from Julia Brown helped the squad take a 4-2 lead.
- NC State got stuck in a rotation a few rallies later, as Florida scored eight unanswered points to extend the lead to 11-6 and they went on to win the frame, 25-16.
- In the third set, NCSU started to find its offensive rhythm and manage the Gators serve better to run the offense.
- After Florida took a 13-7 lead, the Wolfpack responded by winning five of the next six rallies to force a timeout for UF at 14-12.
- Freshman Melissa Evans sparked a 5-1 run with a kill from the right side, as NC State took its first lead of the set at 18-17 following Brown's kill.
- A few rallies later, the Gators reeled off four consecutive points to take a 22-19 lead and won the set 25-22 to clinch the match, 3-0.

Top Performers
- For the fourth consecutive match, Evans tallied double-digit kills as the Lone Tree, Colo., native led the Wolfpack with 11 kills complemented by a .435 hitting percentage with only one error.
- She has tallied 10 or more kills in her first four collegiate matches with three against top-10 opponents.
- At the setter position, Kylie Pickrell handed out 26 assists in addition to four digs and two kills.
- Libero Makenzie Kuchmaner paced the defense with 12 digs.

Up Next
NC State returns to the court Sunday evening for a matchup with the Auburn Tigers. First serve is set for 6 p.m. inside the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez.