North Carolina State University Athletics
Friday, October 11
Raleigh, NC
7pm
NC State
vs
North Carolina
Photo by: Kerrigan Zambrana
Wolfpack Set to Host UNC and Duke for Pair of Home Matches
10/10/2024 12:56:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The NC State volleyball team is set to host in state rivals UNC and Duke for the lone two home matches of the month. The Pack will face the Tar Heels on Friday, Oct. 11 at 7pm before hosting the Blue Devils on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 1pm. Both matches are set to be streamed on ACCNX.Â
The Basics of the Matchups
- Friday's meeting with the Tar Heels marks the 126th meeting between the longtime foes. UNC leads the series with a 92-33 record and NC State has only won three meetings in the last 10 year.
- Last season's meeting in Chapel Hill marked the first win on the road against the Tar Heels since 1997.
- Sunday's meeting with the Blue Devils will be the 106th between the two programs. The Wolfpack has won five meetings over the last 10 years and two under head coach Luka Slabe. Â
A Win/Wins Would ...
- be the 201st and 202nd ACC win in program history
- be the 808th and 809th overall win in program history
- be the 70th and 71st under head coach Luka Slabe
- be the third and fourth conference win this season
- be the eighth and ninth win of the season
Milestone Watch
- Sophie Groom - 36 kills from 500
- Ava Brizard - 243 kills from 1,000
- Martyna Leoniak - 87 kills from 500
- Jada Allen - 43 blocks from 400
- Amanda Rice - 159 kills from 1,000
A Match That Hits Close to Home
- Sunday's match against the Blue Devils marks the annual Pink Match for the Wolfpack. NC State will wear black jerseys that have faded pink accents and neon pink sleeves.
- The first coach of the volleyball program, Kay Yow, battled breast cancer on-and-off for 22 years. She earned the inaugural Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the 2007 ESPY Awards after one of the most remarkable seasons in the history of women's college basketball.
- Senior setter Naomi Cabello and freshman outside Reis Baune both have seen the affects of breast cancer first hand -- both their mom's battled the disease.
- Mayra Cabello and Mandy Baune, both survivors, will be in attendance on Sunday.
First RPI Check In
- The NCAA released the first RPI rankings of the 2024 season on October 2. The Wolfpack checked in at 50, seven spots lower than it was a year ago -- RPI of 43 on Oct. 2, 2023 marked the highest RPI ranking in program history. As of Monday, the Wolfpack checked in at 60.
- Other ACC teams in the top 60 and their rankings - 2. Louisville, 3. Pitt, 5. Stanford, 11. SMU, 19. North Carolina, 21. Florida State, 27. Georgia Tech, 31. Virginia, 32. Notre Dame, 38. Miami (FL), 51. Clemson
Gnarly Plays and Feelin' Gritty
- The Wolfpack have proven they aren't afraid to make a 'gnarly play', as head coach Luka Slabe likes to say. Whether it is sprinting toward the bleachers, diving toward signage, heading toward a bench, or hitting a ball over the net from the ground -- the Pack will do whatever it takes to keep a rally going.
- Senior Libero Skye Stokes made the number three spot on Sports Center Top 10 after a 'gnarly' play against Liberty on September 11 that had her diving into signage in the south end of Reynolds Coliseum to keep the ball in play -- the Pack won the rally in the end.
- The Pack has also proven it is full of grit. The team has been working on their mindset when it comes to being down in a set -- not counting themselves out, but focusing on the next point.
- Despite being down 11 in set three against Coastal Carolina, the Wolfpack forced set point to be played seven times after a 6-0 scoring run to minimize the scoring deficit to six before the Chanticleers won the set, 25-18.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
DS/L
/ Women's VolleyballWednesday, April 22
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