The NC State volleyball team fell to the Duke Blue Devils 3-2 at Cameron Indoor Stadium to mark the team’s ninth ACC loss.
The Wolfpack (10-16, 5-9 ACC) had a strong start against the Blue Devils (12-15, 5-9 ACC) with a 2-0 set advantage, taking the first set 25-22 and barely cinching the second set 25-23. The Pack seemed to have slowed down in the third set losing 25-18 and came up short in the fourth set 25-22. The Blue Devils were able to halt the Pack’s efforts in the final set 15-7.
In the first set, the Blue Devils went on a short-lived four-point run for the lead at 16-15, but the Wolfpack answered with its own four points to take away Duke’s edge.
Junior opposite hitter Melissa Evans’ offensive play was on par with Duke’s middle blocker Lauren Cline. Cline had scored 20 kills, one more than Evans.
The Pack started down in the second set 12-9. With a kill from sophomore outside hitter Jade Parchment, the Wolfpack tied the set at 15 points. Although the Blue Devils kept a small point gap, they could not overcome the Pack who reached set point first, 24-22.
The Wolfpack had a strong offense in the first two sets, averaging a 0.271 hitting percentage, but for the rest of the match, it was only able to get a 0.100 hitting percentage.
The Pack was out-blocked as blocking leader middle blocker Lizzie Fleming from Duke totaled 13 blocks. Nine more blocks than the Pack’s leading blocker, redshirt junior middle blocker Jessica Kemp.
The Wolfpack had gathered itself for the fourth set, leading 6-2. The Pack kept the lead for most of the set. A block from Evans and Kemp helped to keep the Pack’s lead at 18-16, but it wasn’t enough as the Blue Devils were able to push ahead 20-19 and hold the lead for the rest of the set.
The Wolfpack didn’t have much of a chance in the final set when the Blue Devils came out strong, 8-2.
Redshirt sophomore defensive specialist Kaylee Frazier and redshirt freshman setter Nina Sharpton were both leaders in the game. Frazier led with 38 digs and Sharpton had 59 assists.
The Wolfpack’s next match will be against Miami at Knight Complex Friday, Nov. 15 at 5 p.m.
