The volleyball team took its third consecutive ACC opponent to four games but again found itself on the losing end, falling 3-1 to Maryland in College Park, Md.
N.C. State (3-12, 0-5 ACC) took the first game of the match 30-26, and found itself in unfamiliar territory leading an ACC opponent thanks largely to a .263 hitting percentage.
“After the first game we were pumped up,” freshman setter Alex Smith said. “We were ready to go. We believed in ourselves and that we could win.”
Maryland (10-4, 2-3) wasn’t phased, however, as Pack passing errors and a negative hitting percentage allowed the Terrapins to win the second game 30-25.
“I think we were a little bit too excited from winning the first match that we lost our concentration,” Smith said.
“Our passing broke down,” freshman outside hitter Chrissy Zirpolo said. “We were more laid-back, almost like we expected them to hand it to us.”
The third game proved to be the turning point in the match, as State held a 24-19 advantage, but watched it slip away as the Terps won 31-29.
“It was shocking for the girls, and you could see it on their faces,” coach Charita Stubbs said. “Unfortunately, I knew that if we lost the third game it would be very hard for them to come back in the fourth game because they’re not used to being in that position.”
Stubbs would be proven right, as the Pack wasn’t able to get anything started in what would be the final game, losing 30-16 with 11 attack errors against 12 kills.
“We just needed to step up our game and when we needed to, we didn’t,” Zirpolo said.
Zirpolo collected double-digit kills — 10 — in her third straight match, while sophomore outside hitter Keri DeMar led State’s attack with 13 kills. State also had five total aces and 10 team blocks. Junior middle blocker Aiwane Iboaya led the team with five blocks.
The loss was the Pack’s 11th in a row and continues an ACC winless streak that dates back to 2005.
“When you’re dealing with a team that hasn’t had much success, you figure there’s no one on the team that knows what it takes to win,” Stubbs said.
State will take on the current ACC leader Duke on Thursday. Although Duke is undefeated in ACC play, Zirpolo said she is eagerly awaiting the chance for her team to make some noise with an upset.
“If we work hard in practice this week, I think it could be a very good game,” she said.
