The NC State volleyball team only has six games left in the season, and the Wolfpack has the opportunity to go 23-6 overall and 13-5 in conference play. The Pack hasn’t been able to break the 20-win mark since 2017, when the team went 21-12 and 15-5 in the ACC.
To make this season’s success possible, some changes had to be made throughout the years. The biggest change came when head coach Luka Slabe joined the Pack in February 2020. Slabe, a former coach on the USA Volleyball team, brought a new energy to the red-and-white.
His “one percent” attitude encouraged the Wolfpack to focus on the small details of its game. Like many team sports, success in volleyball doesn’t depend on a specific position, but rather a cumulative team effort. This season, the red-and-white have focused heavily on that mindset and have used it in games that stretch to the final fifth set.
That’s not to say certain players aren’t making a significant impact on the hardwood. Junior opposite hitter Amanda Rice and sophomore outside hitter Ava Brizard have put on a show so far this season, recording 249 and 310 kills on the season, respectively.
In her second season with the Pack, Brizard has proved an invaluable player — she continuously sets new career-highs in aces, digs and points. Her best game so far this season was in a loss to Florida State, when she totaled 25.5 points that consisted of 25 kills and a block assist.
Rice has grown as a player every year she’s played for the Pack, consistently improving in kills and block assists. Her teammates coined her “Big Red” this season, and she lives up to the title. In a matchup against Duke on Oct. 27, “Big Red” had the game of her career, totalling 27 kills, three blocks and 29 points. With both Rice and Brizard eligible to play for a few more years in Raleigh, the future is looking bright for the ladies of the court.
In addition to outstanding players like Rice and Brizard, one of the biggest signs pointing towards continued success was the Pack’s 3-1 win against then-No. 5 Louisville in Reynolds Coliseum. The win was the program’s first win over a top-five program and only the second win against a ranked opponent in Wolfpack volleyball’s 47-year history. For the first time ever, the Bell Tower lit red for NC State volleyball, turning a new page in Wolfpack athletics.
On top of a win over a historically dominant ACC team, a 10-game win streak is also a good sign for the future of the program. From Aug. 26 to Sept. 24, the Pack didn’t lose, producing the longest win streak since 2014.
Alongside the buzzing offense this season, the Pack’s defense has also shown many signs of promise. With 1,214 digs and 321 block assists spread throughout the team, the defense is on the upward track and seldom fails to keep the red-and-white in the game when it comes down to the wire. Senior defensive specialist Skye Stokes leads the team with 314 digs, cementing her spot on the team in her first year with the Pack.
Junior middle blocker Jada Allen and senior middle blocker Riley Shaak lead the team in 89 and 75 blocks, respectively. These two defensive players have been playing for the Wolfpack for a few years now, building a strong foundation for the program to grow on.
Last but certainly not least, this team has one veteran player who has stuck with the Pack through thick and thin: graduate setter Kristen McDaniel. This quarterback of the court has been with the volleyball program since 2019 and has put up 2,730 assists and 913 digs over the course of her career. McDaniel has played in every game so far this season and will hopefully end her final season with the grand prize: making the NCAA Tournament.
Out of the 64 teams selected for the tournament, only 32 are given automatic qualification, while the other half is selected by the Division I Volleyball Committee. The selection show occurs on Sunday, Nov. 26, and the Pack can make a good case to get a spot.
With 10 underclassmen, NC State volleyball is young and ready to grow from its current success. The season is not over yet, and there is no room for the red-and-white to let its foot off the gas. Next up, the Wolfpack will host Boston College on Friday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
