N.C. State (20-8, 11-5 ACC) split its weekend matches against Virginia (15-13, 8-8 ACC) and Virginia Tech (21-9, 9-7 ACC) at Reynolds Coliseum.
The Wolfpack edged out a 3-2 victory against the Cavaliers on Friday night (25-10, 24-26, 27-25, 18-25, 15-13) but was swept by the Hokies on Saturday, 3-0 (23-25-20-25, 16-25).
“Other than one bad set, we played really well against Virginia,” head coach Bryan Bunn said. “We stayed resilient, especially in the fifth set. But the Hokies, we outkilled them, but we couldn’t pass, and you can’t win if you can’t pass.”
After claiming a 15-point win in the first set against UVa, the Cavs kept the second set close as neither team held more than a four-point lead. Virginia eventually pulled ahead and took the set 26-24, despite a late rally by the Pack
The Cavs raced out to a 5-0 run at the beginning of the third set and earned set point, but State turned the tide and finished on a 6-1 run to take the set, 27-25.
Virginia led for the entirety of the fourth set, scoring six consecutive points to start the set. The Pack began the final set on a 5-0 run, to which UVa responded with a 3-0 run of its own. The teams traded points until State clinched the match with the 15-13 victory. The win gave State its 20th win of the season, marking the third straight 20-win season for the Pack.
Junior outside hitter Dariyan Hopper led the team with 18 kills followed by junior outside hitter Rachel Buckley with 17. Freshman setter Maggie Speaks led in assists with 27.
Coming off its win against the Cavs on Friday, the Wolfpack began its match against Virginia Tech on Saturday by jumping ahead midway through the first set. Tech countered with a 7-2 run, which the Pack promptly responded to by scoring four straight points before the team’s traded points. The Hokies broke the trend by ending the set on a 5-1 run, taking the opening set 25-23.
The Hokies jumped ahead of the Pack again in the second set, setting off on a 7-1 run. State attempted to stage a comeback and cut its deficit to one, but Tech finished the set on a 6-2 run to take the set 25-20.
With a 2-0 lead, the Hokies surged out of the gate in the third set with an 8-2 run. State managed an 8-3 run late in the set, but a 10-2 run by Tech finished off the Wolfpack, completing the Hokies season sweep of State.
“We let up as a team, but the energy was there,” Hopper said. “We let them get on a run, and it’s hard to come back from that, especially from a strong offensive team like Virginia Tech.”
Hopper and junior outside hitter Nikki Glass led with 10 kills apiece. Speaks added 28 assists in the loss.
The Pack returns to action on Wednesday for its final home match of the season against UNC-Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels beat the Wolfpack 3-0 in Chapel Hill in the teams only previous meeting this season.
