Press Release courtesy of NC State Athletics
The NC State volleyball team will make the short commute over to UNC-Chapel Hill Wednesday evening looking to complete the season sweep, as the Wolfpack won the first matchup between the programs this year 3-2 inside Reynolds Coliseum.
First serve is slated for 6:30 p.m. inside Carmichael Arena and the contest will be broadcast live on the ACC Network Extra, accessible through Watch ESPN and the Watch ESPN App. Admission is FREE for fans.
With a win, NC State would make history as the squad has never swept the ACC season series with UNC-Chapel Hill. The Wolfpack won both meetings with the Tar Heels in 1983, but only one matchup was a conference game and the other was a non-conference match.
Additionally, the Pack has not won in Chapel Hill since October 28, 1997, when NC State earned a 3-2 victory.
This season, NC State owns a 13-6 overall record and is one of just two undefeated teams in ACC play with an 8-0 ledger, its best start to conference in program history. The Wolfpack has won 13 of its last 14 matches, including a nine-match winning streak. UNC-CH is 9-7 overall and 6-2 in conference action, having won its last four contests.
Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief Drive
NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill participated in the Puerto Rico Clasico in San Juan last month, just days before devastating hurricanes swept through the area. In an effort to help, the Tar Heels and Wolfpack are teaming up to have a hurricane relief drive at Wednesday’s match and fans of both teams are encouraged to bring clothing, flashlights and other useful items.
A full list of requested items is below:
– Clothing
– Flashlights
– First-aid Kits
– Batteries
– Battery-powered radios
– Battery-powered fans
– Bug spray
Donation bins will be located inside the main entrance to the arena.
Last Time Out
In its last outing, NC State picked up its ninth consecutive victory to remain perfect in ACC play with a 3-1 win against Virginia Tech. The Wolfpack dropped the opening set, but stormed back to win the next three to earn the victory.
It was the first set that the Pack has lost during the month of October, as the squad has now won 15 sets and lost just one this month.
Best Start to ACC Play in Program History
With last Friday’s win against Virginia, NC State earned its best start to ACC play in program history as the squad had never been 7-0 in league action prior to the victory. Now the Wolfpack has the opportunity to build on it, as NCSU remains unbeaten at 8-0 after defeating Virginia Tech on Sunday.
Kearney Approaching Major Milestones
Senior Kaitlyn Kearney heads into Wednesday’s match with 496 career blocks, just two shy of breaking the program record of 497 held by Pam Vehling (1986-89). She owns 100 blocks this season and with her 102 block she would own the record for the most by a Wolfpack player.
The Frisco, Texas, native has led NC State in blocks each of her seasons with the program, tallying 118 as a freshman, a career-best 149 as a sophomore and 129 last season.
Kearney owns the fifth-most blocks among NCAA Division I Volleyball players and the most in the ACC.
Additionally, she is just 19 kills away from reaching 1,000 for her career as she has 981 to her credit. She would become the third player on the Wolfpack to reach the milestone.
Nine Straight W’s
The NC State volleyball team has won nine consecutive matches since its last loss at No. 21 Michigan on Sept. 21. The Wolfpack has been firing on all cylinders, offensively and defensively, since that match.
During the stretch, NC State owns a .264 attacking percentage while limiting opponents to a .170 clip. The Wolfpack is also out-blocking its opposition, 105-87.5.
13 In a Row
Prior to losing the first set on Sunday against Virginia Tech, NC State had won 13 consecutive sets. During the span, the Wolfpack outscored opponents, 334-267.
Perfect Against In-State Opponents
Heading into Wednesday’s match, NC State holds a perfect 5-0 record against in-state opponents this season with wins over UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, Wake Forest, High Point and UNCW.
This season marks just the second time in program history and first since 2012 that NC State has beaten Duke, UNC-CH and Wake Forest in the same season.
Scouting UNC-Chapel Hill
The UNC-Chapel Hill Tar Heels were the preseason favorite in the ACC in a vote of the league’s head coaches, but have had a few injuries interrupt the squad’s chemistry. The Tar Heels have welcomed some of those players back to their lineup and they have won their last four matches as a result.
In their last outing, UNC-CH swept Virginia 3-0 after earning a 3-1 victory versus Virginia Tech the day before.
The Wolfpack won the first matchup with the Tar Heels this season with a 3-2 victory inside Reynolds Coliseum on Sept. 22. NC State led 2-0 in the match before UNC-Chapel Hill rallied to even the match at two apiece, but the Pack won the fifth set to take the match.
Preseason ACC Player of the Year Taylor Leath leads the squad offensively with 206 kills, an average of 3.22 kills per set. Holly Carlton and Kendra Koetter have split time at the setter position with the former handing out 6.23 assists per set and the latter, 4.04. Defensively, Casey Jacobs paces the group in digs with 149, averaging 2.76 digs per set.
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