The volleyball team will take a seven-match losing streak into Reynolds Coliseum tonight, playing host to ACC-rival Clemson at 7 p.m.
N.C. State (3-8, 0-1 ACC) last played a week ago when North Carolina swept the Pack 3-0 in front of a season-high 1,983 fans in both teams’ ACC opener. Freshman Nikki Sweet said the large crowd definitely had an impact on the team’s playing.
“When we win a big point and we get excited and the crowd is with us, it makes a big difference,” Sweet said. “We haven’t won at home yet, but it’s definitely a lot easier to play here.”
The Wolfpack hasn’t won a home match since last September’s sweep of UT-Chattanooga.
Clemson (7-2, 0-0) won the Clemson Classic last weekend, scoring victories against Kent State, Appalachian State and Georgia State, sweeping the tournament without dropping a game. The Tigers will lean heavily on their junior middle hitter Danielle Hepburn in the team’s first ACC match up of the year. Hepburn was named MVP of the Clemson Classic and leads the team with 124 kills this season.
The Tigers are leading the ACC in hitting percentage while State continues to struggle against conference opponents, with the Pack’s last ACC win coming in 2005. Despite the losing streak, freshman setter Alex Smith said she is upbeat about the match.
“We just need to take care of little things — knowing what’s going on on the other side of the court, listening for coaches to make changes, and adapting during games,” Smith said. “If we focus on us, not the opponent, then we’ll win.”
State has seen significant production from the freshman class, as Smith leads the team in assists, while Sweet leads all Pack players with 102 digs. The Pack will need good production from freshman Lauren Zaniboni as well. Zaniboni is the team leader in both kills and games played, as she’s appeared in every game contested this season.
State will also play Sunday at 2 p.m. as the team plays host to Georgia Tech at Reynolds.
The Yellow Jackets (6-4, 0-0) have beaten the Pack in 14 straight regular-season contests, with the last State win coming in 1999. The Jackets competed in the Michigan/Nike Invitational last weekend, defeating Utah Valley and Temple before losing to undefeated Michigan.
Preseason All-ACC selection Lindsey Gray is among the conference leaders in service aces and could pose problems for State as the freshman-laden team had a few lapses in communication in last weekend’s match against the Tar Heels.
“We didn’t talk as much,” sophomore Keri DeMar said, “but overall, we talked more than previous games.”
Freshman libero Lindsay Benac seemed to feel the problem was a bit less tactile.
“We needed an extra little ‘oomph,'” said Benac of the UNC match. “We’re going to come back strong [this] week and work hard.”
