The NC State volleyball team went 3-0 at the Tulane Tournament in New Orleans during the weekend, winning against Nicholls State, Tulane and Incarnate Word in the Allstate Sugar Bowl Collegiate Classic.
Both the Nicholls State and Tulane matches went to four sets, and the Incarnate Word game was a thrilling five setter, but NC State ended up with wins in all three matches.
“It was a good learning experience for us,” head coach Bryan Bunn said. “Playing on the road and being away from home for a few days gets us prepared for the ACC season.”
The Wolfpack contained Nicholls State to 15 points in the first set in its match Friday night. The Colonels fought back in the second set, and the score was tied 13 times before the Pack fell 22-25. NC State dominated the third set, holding the Colonels to 12 points. The fourth set was a back-and-forth contest. Neither team led by more than four points throughout.
Freshman Blayke Hranicka’s kill took the fourth set for the Wolfpack against Nicholls State. She totaled 14 kills on the night. Sophomore Kaitlyn Kearney tallied 17 kills, and junior setter Maggie Speaks had 39 assists.
NC State faced off against Tulane for the first time in team history midday on Saturday.
The Wolfpack took the first set with a strong start by senior Morgan Cormier, who had three service aces. Tulane rebounded in the second set, tying the score with State 15 times throughout before taking it 27-25. NC State regrouped and took a lead, 20-12, with kills by Cormier and freshman Sarah Konchan clinching the third set for State 25-17. The Pack immediately took a 9-3 lead in the fourth set, and after a couple of timeouts by both sides, extended that lead to 17-9. The Wolfpack took the set 25-19.
Kearney had one of her best games, tallying 19 kills and 12 blocks, as did classmate Perry Ramsey, making 13 kills in the match. Senior setter Tanna Aljoe had seven digs and Speaks made 42 assists.
“She did fantastic and had a great weekend,” Bunn said about Kearney. “She struggled a little early tonight, but bounced back and really played well. Kaitlyn’s blocking has also been great recently, so she’s contributing a lot offensively and defensively.”
Match three of the weekend was against Incarnate Word, and it was the second match of the season to go to five sets.
“We didn’t play well early in the match and they took it to us,” Bunn said. “We rebounded in the third and fourth sets and then took care of business in the fifth set. Fortunately, we were able to regroup to win the match.”
NC State lost the first two sets of the game, 18-25 and 16-25, but rallied and took the third set in stride, winning 25-14. The fourth set was a nail-biter, but the Pack took it 28-26. NC State was back in its rhythm in the fifth set, taking the set 15-12 and the game 3-2.
Hranicka had a career-best match with a total of 16 kills at the net. Kearney came through with 15 kills and Cormier, and Ramsey put down nine kills. Speaks also had a match high, racking up 49 assists and 16 digs.
The team will again be put to the test this coming weekend in the DoubleTree Classic, held at home in Carmichael Gymnasium.
