In electrifying fashion, NC State volleyball delivered a bounceback performance on Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Drake. The match was its second as a part of the Bluejay Invitational in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Wolfpack (1-1) secured its first victory off the heels of a decisive straight-sets loss to No. 12 Creighton on Friday night. Both NC State and Drake (0-2) came into the meeting hoping to earn their first victory of the new campaign. Ultimately, the match came down to who wanted it more, as all four sets were decided by four points or less.
Seniors and graduate students fill the Pack’s roster, providing a distinct experience advantage in such tightly contested sets. Graduate setter Naomi Cabello and senior middle blocker Jada Allen combined for a crucial block to seal the second set, epitomizing the fight the Wolfpack showed throughout the contest.
After falling into an early 13-7 hole, the resilient Wolfpack finished the first set with an 18-8 run that included four errors from Drake. Three of the Pack’s final six points came from kills by junior outside hitter Ava Brizard, culminating in a 25-21 score.
In the second set, Drake amassed almost an identical 13-8 lead that was answered by back-to-back aces from graduate libero Skye Stokes. However, the Bulldogs did not let go easily, leading to a frantic ending to the set. The Pack eventually closed the set with Cabello and Allen’s combo block to win the second set 28-26.
The tide changed in the third set as the two teams remained deadlocked at a 12-11 Wolfpack lead. Drake responded with an 8-1 run, resulting in a 25-21 third set victory. NC State struggled to find the right combination to slow the Bulldogs momentum, substituting a number of times prior to losing their decisive two-set lead.
Drake looked as if it was going to send the match to a winner-take-all fifth set as it once again took an early edge in the fourth set, this time at 16-10. Head coach Luke Slabe took a desperation timeout and lit a fire under his veteran squad, rounding off the fourth set with a 15-3 run that wrapped up a gutsy Wolfpack victory.
One of the most significant factors came from the Wolfpack out-killing Drake 61-53. Though accounting for an extra set of action, NC State’s kill numbers rose from 32 in three sets to 61 in four. The Wolfpack’s unpredictable offensive attack resulted in five players securing eight or more kills, led by senior opposite hitter Amanda Rice with 16.
Defensively, Stokes played a critical role with 17 digs to go along with her pair of aces, leading her squad that had four players surpass 10 digs for the day. In addition, Allen single-handedly out-blocked Drake 7-to-6, creating substantial frustration on the Bulldog sideline.
NC State volleyball will suit up once again tomorrow at 1 p.m. for a third match in the Bluejay Invitational against Missouri.
