Nick Faulkner
Senior libero Rachel Eppley cheers in excitement after winning the final point in a set over No. 12 UNC. Eppley led the team in digs with 22 and in service aces with two. Though the Pack led 2-1, it fell in the end 3-2 in Reynolds Coliseum on Sept. 12.
With 10 regular season games left to play, the NC State volleyball team has already bested its conference record from the previous two seasons. A combination of the new coaching staff and the young talent on the court has probably helped the effort, but the seniors have undoubtedly been the leaders of this much-improved squad. Setter Maggie Speaks and libero Rachel Eppley have been catalysts for this team’s success on both offense and defense in head coach Linda Hampton-Keith’s system.
Eppley and Speaks seemed eager to embrace the coaching change, and Hampton-Keith spoke very highly about their handling of the change.
“Both Rachel and Maggie being our lone seniors, they really set the tone for our team,” Hampton-Keith said. “For them to have a coaching change in their senior year is really, really tough and we acknowledge that, but I never expected to have two seniors embrace everything that we’re doing so well.”
This pair emerging as a dynamic duo may be a surprise to some, considering they were both late bloomers in the sport, as they both started playing volleyball in the seventh grade.
“I didn’t really know anything about volleyball,” Speaks said. “I was just tall and they wanted me to play, so I did.”
After an illustrious high school and club volleyball career that included being a three-time region player of the year, three-time all-state selection and being named the South Carolina Coaches Association Women’s Sport Player of the Year, I think it’s safe to say playing volleyball was a good career move for Speaks.
Eppley was also a very highly touted player in her own right before she stepped foot on this campus. In her time at Hopewell and Ardrey Kell High Schools, Eppley managed to become a two-time Southwestern 4A all-conference selection, the Southwestern 4A conference tournament MVP, as well as being named a third-team Max Preps All-American in 2012. To think that this came from two players who didn’t really have an intrinsic push to play volleyball in their early lives is impressive.
The fact that they started playing volleyball seriously at the exact same time isn’t the only thing they have in common. When asked why they picked State over their various other offers, both of them mentioned the fact that they loved this campus. With all that these ladies have done to help bring Pack volleyball to respectability, the campus definitely loves them back.
Their career marks for State are even more impressive than their high school accolades. As a true freshman, Eppley started her Wolfpack career by not missing a single set for that season. She showed that she was more than ready to be a plug and play athlete by tallying 272 digs and 21 aces. The following season was more of the same as she played in every set that season as well. Her numbers improved to 312 and service aces with 27 in her sophomore campaign. Though she was limited early in her junior season by a lower body injury, she roared back to finish the season with a team-high 344 digs. She’s already surpassed that this season with 361 digs and counting.
Speaks has not disappointed since her Wolfpack debut either. In her first season wearing red and white, she finished with 233 assists. Speaks’ sophomore season saw her take over as the squad’s primary setter throughout most of the season. She proved herself worthy of the position by leading the Wolfpack in assists with 799, an average of 9.40 assists per set. Last year, her numbers saw another jump when she notched 1,060 assists. Although the numbers don’t tell the whole story, one peak at this season’s stat sheet would show that these two are exemplifying the phrase “seniors playing like seniors.”
Despite their stellar play, Father Time is undefeated. These ladies understand that their time on the court together is winding down, and they are well aware of it.
“I wish I knew what I know now my freshman year,” Eppley said. “Life would’ve been so much easier.”
Regardless of how this season ends, Speaks and Eppley will not soon be forgotten by anyone who has seen them play. Hampton-Keith gave a glimpse into their impact on the season this year.
“They’re the heart and soul of the team right now because of their leadership,” Hampton-Keith said. “If they didn’t buy in, we’re not having the season we’re having at all.