NC State Volleyball Concludes SMU DoubleTree Classic with Win Over Arkansas St.

DALLAS – After taking a 2-0 lead in the match, the NC State volleyball team held off a furious comeback attempt from the Arkansas State Red Wolves to earn a 3-2 victory Saturday afternoon inside Moody Coliseum.

The Wolfpack concludes play in the SMU DoubleTree Classic with a 2-1 mark thanks to its win against the host SMU Mustangs yesterday before suffering a loss to No. 15 Creighton in the nightcap.

NC State is now 3-2 on the year, while Arkansas State is 2-4. The Red Wolves won 21 matches last season and advanced to the second round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) Postseason Tournament.

Quoting Hampton-Keith

Overall thoughts…

“We’re very pleased with the work we put in this weekend,” said head coach Linda Hampton-Keith. “To be able to gut out a close five-set match early in the season shows tremendous growth and potential. Credit Arkansas State for pressuring us and executing, it was a match that challenged us, and a lot of learning took place today.

“Overall, this weekend was a huge step for us in terms of our learning, going through growing pains and coming out the other side in a way that builds trust and confidence. I’m excited about the direction our team is going.”

Match Rewind

– NC State started fast in the match, as the squad raced out to a 5-2 lead in the first set after a block from Lauryn Terry and Kylie Pickrell.

– Four unanswered points put the Wolfpack ahead, 17-9, but Arkansas State countered to narrow the margin to 19-17, forcing an NCSU timeout.

– Out of the break, a kill from Keira Moore sparked three consecutive points for the Pack as it went on to win the set, 25-19.

– The Wolfpack never trailed in the second set en route to the 25-20 set win.

– A 4-1 run gave NC State a 9-5 lead and four unanswered points a few rallies later extended the Wolfpack lead to 16-9.

– Arkansas State rallied to knot the score at 19-19 before NC State countered by winning six of the next seven points to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

– Through the first two sets, NC State owned a .397 team attacking percentage with 28 kills and only five errors.

– Unfortunately, the Wolfpack combined to commit 15 errors over sets three and four as the Red Wolves forced the match to five sets.

– After NC State took a 22-18 advantage in the third set, Arkansas State countered after a timeout to win the set, 25-23.

– A late surge proved to be the difference in the fourth, as the Red Wolves won the frame 25-22 after the score was knotted at 19-19.

– The Pack raced out to a 5-2 lead in the fifth set following consecutive kills by Terry to force an ASU timeout.

– Arkansas State rallied to tie the score at 13, but NC State took a timeout and received a kill from Teni Sopitan to own match point and an attacking error by the Red Wolves gave NCSU the fifth-set win, 15-13, and 3-2 win in the match.

Top Performers

– Evans led a balanced Wolfpack attack, as she was one of four players on the squad with 10 or more kills. The sophomore put down 16 kills and also charted 12 digs to record her second career double-double.

– Sopitan pitched in with 11 kills, while Parchment and Terry each added 10.

– Pickrell handed out a match-high 47 assists in addition to 17 digs to compile her second double-double of the year.

– Defensively, Makenzie Kuchmaner logged 17 digs and Parchment contributed 11.

Up Next

NC State will return to action at home on Friday afternoon when the Wolfpack hosts Wright State. First serve is slated for 2 p.m. inside Reynolds Coliseum.

(Photo Credit: Sharon Ellman)