It was a very close match between the NC State volleyball team and Pittsburgh Sunday, which NC State lost 3-1 for its fifth conference loss this season.
The Wolfpack (9-9, 3-5 ACC) went toe-to-toe with the undefeated No. 6 Panthers (20-0, 8-0 ACC) resulting in four sets that were all close. The first set was won by the Panthers 25-22. The Pack took control for the second set, winning 25-22. The third set gave the Panthers a 2-1 set advantage after a 25-20 win. The fourth set saw a strong Pack that earned itself an early lead, but ultimately the set was taken from the Pack 25-23.
“I thought we were winning that match the whole time,” head coach Linda Hampton-Keith said. “We really believed it. Our blocking was phenomenal. We just did so many great things and then to not get what you want is very disappointing.”
The first set was a close set from the start with the Pack constantly trying to catch up to the Panthers.
The Wolfpack finally had its chance when freshman outside hitter Jade Parchment had a block that tied the score and a kill right after to take the lead 15-14.
It looked to be going well for the Pack when it pulled away 21-19, but a timeout from the Panthers halted the Pack’s growing momentum and the Panthers came back to take the lead at 23-22.
The Pack tried taking a timeout of its own, but it was too late for the first set as the Panthers took the last two points to win the first set 25-22.
The Pack out-blocked the Panthers 17 -11.5, which was a major improvement in the Pack’s play.
The Wolfpack dug itself in a hole at the beginning of the second set, falling behind 6-0. NC State called a timeout that jump started the Pack back into action to come close to taking the lead at 11-9.
The Panthers were able to lose the Pack for a bit by increasing their lead to 14-10, but the Pack soon went on a five-point run to take the lead at 17-16.
The two teams traded points back and forth until the Pack was finally two points ahead of the Panthers at 23-21.
The Wolfpack quickly finished the set in two kills, one from sophomore outside hitter Melissa Evans and senior middle blocker Teni Sopitan, to close the second set at 25-22.
“Everybody just did their job and did it to their best ability,” Sopitan said. “As individual players we just did the best that we could.”
The third set began with the Pack leading 3-2, but it didn’t last as the Panthers soon tied up the score at 10-10.
The Panthers took the lead and left the Pack trailing 16-11.
A block from Evans brought the Pack deficit to two points, but the Panthers stayed steady in the lead.
NC State called a second timeout to try and come back, but it only encouraged the Panthers as they controlled the game, reaching set point at 24-17.
The Wolfpack made an impressive attempt to come back at its last possible chance, and got as close as 24-20, before Pittsburgh received the final point needed to win the third set 25-20.
Top-scorer Sopitan had 14 kills and five solo blocks, followed by Parchment who had 12 kills and one solo block.
Most of the fourth set was the Pack trying to play catch up to the Panthers. NC State tied the score at 23-23. Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, the Panthers managed to get two consecutive points to end the fourth set 25-23.
“Something we’ve also been working on recently is being able to do what we can do regardless of whose on the other side of the net,” Parchment said. “I feel like we did a good job of that today even though we didn’t get what we wanted.”
The Wolfpack goes back to the road this Friday to play against Boston College at 7:30 p.m.
Freshman outside hitter Jade Parchment records a dig on Sunday, Oct. 14 at Reynolds Coliseum. Parchment had 12 kills and 7 digs as the Wolfpack lost to No. 6 Pittsburgh 3-1.
