NC State volleyball closes out its preseason with a 3-0 win against Furman at Alley Gym in Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
It’s been over a week since the Wolfpack (5-7) had a victory over Appalachian State and only the second time the Pack has managed a 3-0 sweep this season. The only other time being its first game this season against Austin Peay. The Paladins (0-11) have had an even harder start to the season, not having a single victory.
The first two sets were fairly close sets. The first set was won by the Pack after a close set, 25-22. The second set ended in the Pack’s favor 25-21. The third set saw the Pack offensively aggressive and shutting down the Paladins, holding them to just 17 points.
Junior opposite hitter Melissa Evans and redshirt junior middle blocker Jessica Kemp led the Wolfpack in attacking. Of Evans 16 points, 13 were kills and eight of them were in the first set.
The game started out with both teams determined to win the set and held the score close until the Pack started to break away 16-12. The Paladins soon caught up at 19-18, but the Pack called for a timeout and would soon call a second one when the Paladins tied the game 21-21.
A few ill-timed errors from the Paladins and a final block from senior middle blocker Lauryn Terry and sophomore outside hitter Taylor Rowland closed out the first set.
Rowland led the Pack in blocking, totaling six blocks in her season and NC State debut, finally recovering from an injury in her freshman year at Auburn.
The Paladins opened the second set 4-0 but it didn’t take long for the Wolfpack to lead 12-9. A timeout from Furman did nothing to quiet the Pack’s momentum. The Paladins managed to slowly but steadily close the gap to 23-21 but did nothing to overcome the Pack as senior defense specialist Grace Irvin obtained the last point from a service ace.
The Pack outdid the Paladins in every aspect of the game from having the most kills, blocks and digs as well as having the least number of errors. It was as close to an ideal game as the Pack has been able to manage this season.
Unable to dig themselves out trouble in the third set, the Paladins could only get to 17 points, an easy 3-0 sweep for NC State.
The Wolfpack will compete in its first ACC match of the season this Friday against Louisville at L&N Federal Credit Union Arena at 7 p.m.
