The Wolfpack spent the weekend in Georgia for the ACC-SEC Challenge. The team defeated Arkansas 3-2 on Friday, but then lost to Georgia 3-0 on Saturday.
Marking the last two games before the start of the ACC season, the Wolfpack finished with one win and one loss.
Against Arkansas, the Pack rallied sets back and forth, winning the second, fourth and fifth sets while the Razorbacks had taken the first and third sets.
The first set was off to a tight start, but ultimately NC State lost the first set to the Razorbacks 25-19.
The Razorbacks were able to take 11 points alone just from serve aces while the Pack only managed to scrape three aces; two of them coming from freshman outside hitter Jade Parchment.
In the second set, the Wolfpack bounced back with the Razorbacks close behind, 25-22.
The Pack had 16 kills, the most out of the five sets. NC State’s top hitters throughout the game were senior middle blocker Teni Sopitan and sophomore outside hitter Melissa Evans with 17 and 13 kills respectively.
The third set was easily taken by the Razorbacks with some breathing room, 25-17. The Wolfpack then came back in the fourth set, taking it with five points to spare, 25-20.
Throughout the match, the Pack showed improvement in its blocking by setting a season high of 12 blocks. Seven of the blocks came from junior middle blocker Lauryn Terry. This added layer will help the Pack in its future matches going into ACC play.
Finally, the Pack won the fifth set by the skin of its teeth, 15-13.
On Saturday, the Wolfpack faced Georgia and even though the Pack lost in three straight sets, it was not easy for Georgia to take the win.
In the first set, Georgia tried to take the set in 25 points, but the Pack had closed the gap 25-24, forcing Georgia to score an extra point to win by two.
Sopitan was the only member of the Pack to score in the double digits with 16 kills, an uncommon occurrence for the Pack’s offense.
The last two sets were also hard won by Georgia as the Wolfpack refused to go down without a fight, causing a close second and third sets, 25-22 and 25-21 respectively.
Georgia having 63 digs compared to the NC State’s 55 shows that Georgia was able to keep it in play for a little longer than the Pack. Otherwise, the two teams were on an even playing field.
This weekend’s match proved that the Pack has some things to work on before it faces Louisville, but overall the team is in a strong position coming out the on top of Arkansas in a five-set game and forcing Georgia to three close sets.
The Pack will serve against Louisville at Reynolds Coliseum on Friday at 7 p.m.
