Wolfpack Volleyball to Host Syracuse Wednesday, Florida State Friday on Senior Day

Dates: Wednesday, November 21 & Friday, November 23
Opponents: Syracuse, Florida State
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Site: Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum
Time: 2 p.m.
Live Video: ACC Network Extra (Wed.), ACC Network Extra (Fri.)
Live Stats: SideArm Stats

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State volleyball team will close out its 2018 slate by hosting Syracuse on Wednesday and Florida State Friday afternoon on Senior Day. Both matches are slated for a 2 p.m. first serve inside Valvano Arena at Reynolds Coliseum.

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

NC State owns a 14-13 overall record heading into the week's matches with an 8-8 mark in ACC play, while Syracuse is 17-7 and 13-3 against conference opponents. Florida State has compiled a 17-9 record, highlighted by a 13-3 ledger versus ACC teams.

The Orange and Seminoles are tied for second in the conference with Syracuse ranked 27^thin the NCAA RPI and Florida State listed at No. 26. FSU is also receiving 12 votes for the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top 25 Poll, just four spots shy of No. 25.

Wolfpack seniors Kassie Kasper, Sarah Konchan, Makenzie Kuchmaner, Keira Moore, Kylie Pickrell and Teni Sopitan will be recognized in a postmatch ceremony following Friday's match against Florida.

Match Promotions
Wednesday, Nov. 21 vs. Syracuse
- Kids Zone: Poster Making, games, etc. on the 2^ndFloor of the BB&T Grand Hall

Friday, Nov. 23 vs. Florida State
- Senior Day
- Black Friday, Black Out
- Senior "Thank You" Signs while supplies last
- Postmatch Senior Ceremony

Last Time Out
In its last outing, NC State accomplished something that it had not done in nearly 30 years as the Wolfpack earned a 3-0 sweep against UNC-Chapel Hill. NC State last defeated the Tar Heels in straight sets on Nov. 5, 1991 at home.

The Pack won the first two sets by a few points before cruising to a 25-16 third-set victory to clinch the match.

Senior Teni Sopitan led the Wolfpack in that contest with 15 kills, the third most by any player on the team this season in a three-set match.

Parchment Tabbed ACC Freshman of the Week
After tallying 10 kills and 11 digs to record her sixth double-double in the Wolfpack's win last week, NC State outside hitter Jade Parchment was named ACC Freshman of the Week on Monday. She becomes the first Wolfpack player to garner a weekly honor from the conference this season and secures the first of her career.

Melissa Evans was the last NC State player to collect ACC Freshman of the Week honors when she did so on Sept. 25, 2017.

Four in a Row
NC State has won its last four matches heading into the last week of the regular season, thanks to a pair of five-set victories against Wake Forest and Duke, a 3-1 win at Notre Dame and a 3-0 sweep versus UNC-Chapel Hill.

During the stretch, the Wolfpack is averaging 13.12 kills per set and has limited opponents to 11.53 kps. Additionally, NCSU has compiled 12.41 assists per set and opponents have managed 10.59 aps.

The Wolfpack Can Dig It
In the last four matches, NC State has recorded more digs than its opponent in each contest. The Wolfpack has logged 16.35 digs per set during the stretch and opponents have only collected 13.47 dps.

This season, NC State ranks second in the ACC with 15.29 digs per set as a team. The Pack owns two of the top-four dig totals by a team in the conference this year with 94 against Notre Dame and 93 versus Duke.

Scouting Syracuse
The Syracuse Orange have enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in program history, as they are 17-7 on the year with a strong NCAA RPI at No. 27. The Orange are hoping to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the history of the program.

Syracuse has won its last five matches heading into Wednesday's matchup with the Wolfpack. The Orange swept Virginia Tech last Sunday, 3-0, at home. NC State fell in the first matchup between the teams this season, 3-1, in Syracuse.

NC State earned a 3-0 victory the last time Syracuse visited Reynolds Coliseum on Nov. 3, 2017. It was the Wolfpack's ninth sweep of the year.

NC State and Syracuse have met 12 times in the history of the programs with the Wolfpack owning a 9-3 advantage in the series, highlighted by winning five of the last seven.

The Orange lead the ACC and rank second nationally with 3.07 blocks per set as a team. Redshirt senior middle blocker Amber Witherspoon ranks second in the conference and sixth in the NCAA with 1.55 blocks per set. Freshman Polina Shemanova leads the team offensively with 402 kills, averaging 4.31 kills per set, second in the ACC.

Syracuse has compiled a .252 team attacking percentage, while limiting opponents to a .205 clip.

Scouting Florida State
Florida State is 17-9 with a 13-3 record in ACC play, coming up short against 10^th-ranked Pitt in its last outing. The Seminoles have won four of their last five matches heading into the week and they will face UNC-Chapel Hill on Wednesday prior to playing the Pack on Friday.

NC State has won two of the last three matchups with Florida State. The Seminoles have not visited Reynolds Coliseum since Oct. 9, 2016, when the Wolfpack lost 3-1. Florida State handed NC State its first straight set loss in ACC play this season on Oct. 5.

Outside hitter Payton Caffrey leads the ACC with 4.33 kills per set, which ranks 21^stin the NCAA. Brianne Burkert and Adrian Ell have split time at the setter position, with the former handing out 5.99 assists per set and the latter 4.71. At libero, Kelsey Wicinski has collected 4.40 digs per set to rank third in the conference.

Florida State has compiled a .270 team attacking percentage, the second highest in the ACC, while limiting opponents to a .216 clip.

Wolfpack Volleyball to Host Syracuse Wednesday, Florida State Friday on Senior Day

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Players Mentioned

Melissa Evans

Kassie Kasper

Sarah Konchan

Makenzie Kuchmaner

Keira Moore

Jade Parchment

Kylie Pickrell

Teni Sopitan