Pack Tames Bulls in Four Sets

TAMPA, Fla. – The NC State volleyball team tamed South Florida, 3-1, in the final match of the South Florida Invitational. The Bulls received votes in the most recent AVCA/Taraflex Coaches Poll.

The Wolfpack went undefeated in the tournament with Courtney Bryant earning tournament MVP. Setter Naomi Cabello and libero Skye Stokes earned a spot on the All-Tournament team.

Breaking Down the Match

The Pack opened the match with a block by Amanda Rice and Sophie Groom. The Bulls took the lead, 3-1, but it was the last time USF led in the set.
A gritty rally, highlighted by Rice kicking the ball and Sydney Daniels diving to keep the ball in play, allowed the Pack to tie things four-all.
The Wolfpack took a three-point lead (8-5) that forced USF to use an early timeout. The Bulls battled back-and-forth with the Pack, but NC State would go on to take a lead that USF couldn't minimize. A kill by middle blocker Sophie Groom ended set one with NC State on top, 25-17.
The two teams kept things close in set two, but the Bulls led a majority of the time. Senior libero Skye Stokes scored the 11^th point for the Pack with a service ace and the ace marked her 83^rd career game with at least one.
The Wolfpack rallied back from a three-point deficit to tie things 18-all and then score four more unanswered points, forcing a timeout by the Bulls. USF scored four unanswered points of its own coming out of the timeout and forced head coach Luka Slabe to call a timeout.
After hitting set point for the third time, it was USF who claimed victory in set two, 27-25. Both teams hit over .300 in set two, with NC State hitting .303 and USF hitting .366. Junior outside hitter Ava Brizard led all scorers with nine kills through two sets.
The Wolfpack started off the third set by recording its 10^th block of the match and were out-blocking the Bulls, 10-1.
The Bulls called a timeout after the Pack took a three-point lead (11-8), highlighted by two service aces from junior outside hitter Courtney Bryant.
NC State went on an 8-3 scoring run (19-13) that started with a kill by Brizard and two service aces from senior middle blocker Jada Allen. After the Bulls minimized the deficit to four (19-15), Slabe used his first timeout of the set. South Florida minimized the deficit to two (22-20), forcing another Wolfpack timeout. The Pack continued to dominate and took set two, 25-23.
South Florida received a point before the first serve of set three due to a red card on the Wolfpack for delay of game.
After the Pack took the lead 7-5, the Bulls scored five unanswered points (9-7) to take the lead, forcing an NC State timeout. A kill by senior opposite Madison Williams and an attack error by the Bulls allowed the Pack to tie things 10-all. The Wolfpack went on to dominate the remainder of the set and take a lead the Bulls were unable to top.
The Wolfpack took set four, 25-19, marking its third win in four days.
Daniels recorded three service aces to tie a career high and Rice set a new career high in blocks after recording seven.
The win marked the 66^th under head coach Luka Slabe and 804^th in program history.

Stat Leaders
Kills: Ava Brizard (12)
Digs: Skye Stokes (18)
Assists: Naomi Cabello (24)
Blocks: Jada Allen, Amanda Rice (7)
Aces: Courtney Bryant, Jada Allen, Amanda Rice (3)

Up Next
The NC State volleyball team will return to Raleigh for a four-game homestand. The Pack will host VCU and Coastal Carolina for the second annual Summit Hospitality Group Open starting on Sept. 20.

Next Event

Team Stats

Ava Brizard

Courtney Bryant

Amanda Rice

Madison Williams

Players Mentioned

Jada Allen

Ava Brizard

Courtney Bryant

Naomi Cabello

Sydney Daniels

Sophie Groom

Amanda Rice

Skye Stokes

Madison Williams