Wolfpack Volleyball Opens 2019 Season

Friday, August 30

Raleigh, N.C.

1 pm

NC State

Austin Peay

8/29/2019 9:27:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

TICKETS | MATCH NOTES | LIVE STATS | WATCH GAME 1 | WATCH GAME 2

RALEIGH, N.C. – The 2019 season for NC State Volleyball officially kicks off Friday, Aug. 30 as the Wolfpack hosts Austin Peay and Kansas State. NC State's season opener against Austin Peay will tip off at 1 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. match against Kansas State. Both matches will be broadcast live on ACCNX from Reynolds Coliseum.

FRIDAY PROMOTIONS

The 1 p.m. match against Austin Peay features 'Dollar Dog Day', with $1 hot dogs
The 7 p.m. match includes a free t-shirt giveaway and pregame Chalk Talk with head coach Linda Hampton-Keith
Following the Kansas State match, team autographs will be signed

FRESH FACES FOR THE WOLFPACK
Following the graduation of several key players in 2018, the Wolfpack brings a fresh look to the court in 2019 including six freshman and two transfers. NC State will also get its first on-the-court look at redshirt freshmen Savannah Bryant and Nina Sharpton.

The Wolfpack still returns a group of core veterans, including seniors Grace Irvin and Lauryn Terry in addition to junior All-ACC performer Melissa Evans.

SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY
Austin Peay enters 2019 as the two-time defending regular season champions in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Govs were picked to finish second in the 2019 Preseason Poll after missing the NCAA Tournament last season, despite a 27-5 record. Additionally, Austin Peay has tallied 20 or more wins in the last three seasons.

A pair of Govs, Brooke Moore and Ginny Bussee, were selected to the OVC Preseason Volleyball Team. Moore is Austin Peay's leading returning hitter after posting 370 kills last season, while Bussee led the team with 4.35 digs per set.

SCOUTING KANSAS STATE
Kansas State returns eight letter winners and a pair of 2018 All-Americans in Sarah Dixon and Gloria Mutiri. Mutiri was also the AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year after averaging 2.77 kills per set.

The Wildcats finished 2018 with a 15-12 record, including back-to-back wins over ranked opponents #22 Kansas and #24 Baylor. As a team, Kansas State was picked to finish fifth in the Big 12.

RECAPPING 2018
The Wolfpack concluded 2018 among the top 100 in the NCAA RPI for the third consecutive season, checking in at No. 86. NC State picked up several key wins, including sweeping rival North Carolina for the first time since 1991 and going 5-1 in the month of November.

Additionally, the Wolfpack finished second in the ACC in digs per set as a team (15.35) and logged more digs than its opponent in 18 of 28 matches. Three players earned All-ACC honors for NC State - Teni Sopitan, Kylie Pickrell and Melissa Evans. Pickrell also earned her second-consecutive AVCA All-Region selection.

ABOUT ACCN AND ACCNX
After officially launching Aug. 22, the ACC Network serves as the home for all things ACC. The linear television network joins the digital platform, ACCNX, to broadcast thousands of events during the 2019-20 season. Fans must sign in with their credentials from a participating TV provider. For more information visit getaccn.com.

UP NEXT
NC State opens up its road slate next week, Sept. 5-7, at the VCU Invitational in Richmond, Va. The Wolfpack will open the weekend against host VCU on Thursday at 6 p.m. before taking on UC Santa Barbara Friday at 2:30 p.m. NC State closes out the weekend with a Saturday 1 p.m. matchup against Alabama.

The Wolfpack returns home Sept. 10 to host in-state opponent East Carolina for a 7 p.m. matchup. Tickets are available at GoPack.com/BuyTickets.