Wolfpack Returns to the Road for Appalachian State Invitational

LIVE STATS: VS. WCU | VS. IOWA STATE | VS. APPALACHIAN STATE
WATCH: VS. WCU | VS. IOWA STATE | VS. APPALACHIAN STATE
MATCH NOTES

BOONE, N.C. – Following Tuesday's home match, NC State volleyball returns to the road for the Appalachian State Invitational. The Wolfpack will play three matches between Sept. 13 and 14 against Western Carolina, Iowa State and Appalachian State.

Saturday's evening match will be broadcast on ESPN+ with a free stream provided for the other two.

NC State (2-4) looks to rebound after a tough five-set loss to in-state foe, ECU. The Wolfpack controlled the first two sets, including hitting at a .390 clip in the second. ECU was able to sneak out a third-set victory, 29-27, to keep the match going. The Pirates held off NC State's offense, which included 14 kills from Melissa Evans and 12 from Jessica Kemp, to take the match.

Kaylee Frazier recorded her third-consecutive 20+ dig match, tallying 20 against the Pirates. Frazier ranks second in the ACC with 5.09 digs per set, while the Wolfpack is second as a team with 16.00 per set. Nina Sharpton had a career night, including a 26 assist performance. Evans leads the team with 3.52 kills per set, a mark which ranks sixth among the conference.

SCOUTING WCU
Western Carolina (2-4) opened its season with a win against Georgia State before struggling in matches against Fordham, Lamar and Cal State Fullerton. The Catamounts rebounded with a sweep against Alabama State but dropped their most recent match to Chicago State.

The Catamounts lost just one senior in 2018, returning seven starters. Merry Gebel returns as an offensive threat, after leading WCU with 290 kills last season as a freshman. She currently leads the team with 3.43 kills per set while Hannah Price has a team best hitting percentage of .343.

SCOUTING IOWA STATE
The 2018 NIVC Champions, Iowa State (3-3) returns nine letter winners from last season. The Cyclones missed out on the NCAA Tournament in 2018 for the first time since 2005.

Iowa State's three losses this season have come against several strong opponents, including No. 6 Penn State. The Cyclones have wins against Ole Miss, UNI and South Dakota. Preseason All-Big 12 selection Eleanor Holthaus recorded back-to-back double-doubles last weekend for the Cyclones, including 12 kills and 21 digs against UNI.

SCOUTING APPALACHIAN STATE
Appalachian State (2-5) is coming off back-to-back losses to ACC opponents Duke and Clemson. Following the 1-2 weekend, Emma Reilly and Kara Spicer earned Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week and Offensive Player of the Week honors. Reilly leads the team with 141 digs and 5.42 per set while Spicer ranks second among her team with 77 kills.

Appalachian State posted 22 wins last season in addition to its appearance in the Sun Belt Tournament Championship and the NIVC. The Mountaineers return 12 players from their roster a year ago, including three who earned Preseason All-ACC honors.

UP NEXT
The Pack continues on its eight match road stretch next weekend, Sept. 19-20, where the team travels to Athens, Ga. to face Georgia and Arkansas.

Wolfpack Returns to the Road for Appalachian State Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Melissa Evans

Kaylee Frazier

Jessica Kemp

Nina Sharpton