Pack Pushes Duke to Five in Season Opener

Wednesday, September 23

Durham, N.C.

7 pm

NC State

0-1,0-1ACC

Duke

1-0,1-0ACC

NC State

Duke

Photo by: Duke Athletics

9/23/2020 10:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – In a thrilling five-set matchup that featured 26 ties and nine lead changes, NC State and Duke pushed each other to five sets in a close matchup to open the 2020 volleyball season for both squads. Duke came away with the 3-2 win (25-19, 23-25, 25-8, 23-25, 15-12) over NC State despite multiple comeback efforts by the Wolfpack.

Melissa Evans led NC State offensively with a game-high 14 kills. The senior also had a career and team-best 17 digs. Hartley Myers and Pam Chukwujekwu joined Evans in double-digit kills with 12 and 11, respectively. It was a career-best performance for Chukwujekwu, who also tacked on five blocks.

Myers, in her collegiate debut, tallied a double-double, adding 11 digs in addition to two blocks. Riley Shaak also impressed in her debut, notching four blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Duke came out quick with a 3-1 lead, taking an advantage it would not relinquish in the first set. The Blue Devils were strong defensively, tallying five blocks.

NC State bounced back in the second set, highlighted by an .800 hitting clip from Chukwujekwu. The match remained tied at 14-14 until Duke took a 15-14 lead on an NC State service error. Down 21-17, the Pack fired off a 9-2 run to close out and win the second set. Myers led the attack with three kills and a block in the final five points of the set.

After the Pack dropped the third set, Duke also took an early 7-3 lead in the fourth. The Wolfpack stormed back to take a 13-9 lead following a 9-1 stretch that included three kills and a block by Chukwujekwu. Duke fought its way back to a slim 20-18 lead before back-to-back kills from Melissa Evans eventually gave NC State the lead it would not relinquish.

After playing in 12 five-set matches in 2019, the Pack came out quick with a 3-0 lead in the fifth set. Duke quickly responded, and the teams matched each other point-for-point, pushing the score to 10-10. It was back-to-back kills by Duke's Payton Schwantz that would push the Blue Devils' lead out of reach for NC State.

OF NOTE

Wednesday marked the 100^th meeting between the two programs, as Duke now leads the series 68-33.
McDaniel boasted career-highs in two categories with 38 assists and three blocks. The sophomore also had 11 digs for her second career double-double.
Kaylee Frazier, the 2019 ACC digs per set leader, picked up right where she left off with 16 digs, making it four Wolfpack players who recorded double-digit kills.
With her 14 kills Wednesday night, Evans is 27 away from reach 1,000 in her career.

UP NEXT
The Pack will have a second chance against the Blue Devils Saturday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. as it returns to Cameron Indoor. The match will be broadcast on ACCNX.