After suffering its first ACC loss of the season to UNC-Chapel Hill last week, the NC State volleyball team returned to its winning ways with a 3-1 victory on the road against Pittsburgh.
The Pack (14-7, 9-1 ACC) handed the Panthers (16-5, 9-1 ACC) their first ACC loss of the season to rejoin them atop the conference standings.
The first set began rather slowly for the Wolfpack, which quickly saw itself down to a 4-0 deficit. However, midway through the set the Pack was able to bounce back, gaining a 12-11 edge over the home team.
From that point on, State maintained control and closed out the first set with a 25-21 victory.
Despite a hitting percentage of just .094, the Pack capitalized on five kills from senior Julia Brown and seven Panther errors.
The second set began much as the first one ended, after exchanging a pair of points back and forth, both teams sat level at 4-4.
However, eager to avoid falling behind to a 2-0 disadvantage, the Panthers fought hard and were able to cruise past the Pack, eventually taking the second set by a comfortable 25-15 margin.
Relying on a .375 hitting percentage, the Panthers now sat level with the Pack at one set a piece.
The third set began quickly for State, as early on the Wolfpack found itself up 3-1. From that point on, both teams battled back and forth and late in the set, the Pack found itself with a narrow 18-17 lead.
With the momentum of the game on the line, State responded confidently. Through the 12 assists from junior Kylie Pickrell, the Pack was able to hold off the Panthers and take the third set 25-19. Additionally, State’s hitting percentage rose to .308.
In the fourth set, the Wolfpack continued right where it left off, swiftly leaping out to a 6-3 lead. State only continued to expand upon this early margin, taking the set by a score of 25-18 and winning the match 3-1.
Graduate student Bree Bailey stepped up big during this final set, tallying eight kills. The Pack also recorded a game-high .412 hit percentage while minimizing the Panthers to a .226 hit percentage.
In total, Bailey led the team in kills, with a total of 13. Other impactful players were the duo of Brown and junior Teni Sopitan who both recorded 11 kills.
Pickrell served up 41 assists, while senior Kaitlyn Kearney recorded seven kills and did not commit a single error, recording a team-high attacking percentage of .438.
Up next, the Pack will travel to Coral Gables, Florida where it will take on Miami Friday night in another ACC match.
