NC State volleyball team split its away matches over the weekend against the Clemson Tigers and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
The Wolfpack (13-9, 2-8 ACC) defeated Clemson (5-16, 0-9 ACC) in straight sets then lost the battle to Georgia Tech (14-8, 5-5 ACC) in straight sets.
The Wolfpack came ready to play and maintained the lead throughout the first and second sets. Clemson took the first timeout while behind 11-16. NC State didn’t slow down and rushed to 22-19 before taking a timeout. An attack error by the Tigers and two kills by sophomore Julia Brown led the Wolfpack to take the first set 25-21.
Pack had a conference-season-high attacking percentage of .337 against Clemson.
Clemson was shaken as the Pack took a 14-9 lead early in the second set, thanks to a kill by senior outside hitter Morgan Cormier. NC State continued to battle as the score climbed to 22-13 before the Tigers made a slight comeback. The Wolfpack still took the set 25-22.
The third set was a frenzy, as the score tied 16 times, and the lead changed six times. With the score tied at 20, Brown made a kill to get the Pack on a run. Junior setter Maggie Speaks helped out with some strong serves to take the set for the Pack 25-20.
Speaks had six digs, four kills and two service aces on the night. She was helped by freshman Blayke Hranicka with 13 kills and a .600 attack percentage. Sophomore Perry Ramsey had 11 kills and seven digs, and classmate Brown had 10 kills.
The Wolfpack then traveled to Georgia Tech Sunday to compete in their second match of the weekend.
State rushed out to a lead in the first set, but Georgia Tech rallied to match the Pack at 12. A kill by Brown kept the Pack ahead by one at 19-18. The score tied again at 20 before Georgia Tech took a lead 21-20 forcing an NC State timeout. The Wolfpack went back and forth with the Yellow Jackets in the last five points, but Tech took the set 25-23.
In the second set, the Pack had an early 4-2 lead but was quickly passed by Georgia Tech. The score tied several times as the teams fought for control. Halfway into the set, the score tied at 12 before Tech took a three-point lead forcing a timeout.
The Yellow Jackets continued to push to lead 19-13 with the Van Gunst twins fierce at the net. Tech pulled away to take the set 25-18.
NC State put up a 10-2 advantage quickly in the third set. Tech made a comeback taking the score to 15-12 and forcing a Wolfpack timeout. State still had the lead and reached 20 points first with the Yellow Jackets not far behind at 18.
The score remained stagnant for State at 21 until a kill by Hranicka put the Pack at 22. The Yellow Jackets fed off State’s errors and two kills to edge the score in their favor. Georgia Tech took the set 25-22 and the match 3-0.
Hranicka and Ramsey had eight kills on the match. Junior libero Rachel Eppley had three service aces and 10 digs. Speaks put up three blocks and had 30 assists.
The Wolfpack returns to Carmichael Gym to play Notre Dame Friday.
