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September 11,2024
Raleigh, NC- On Tuesday, the NC State Wolfpack Volleyball team (2-2,0-0) returned home from Iowa to host the visiting Liberty Flames (3-3,0-0) in the home opener for the Wolfpack at Reynolds Coliseum. The two teams had only met 3 times previously with the Flames holding the series lead at 2 games to 1. Both wins for the Flames came in back-to-back years in 2008 and 2009. The Wolfpack are coming off a weekend trip to Omaha, Nebraska in which they were bested in 2 of the 3 matches there. The Wolfpack come home to Reynolds with a very senior laden team who are looking to compete for the ACC title.
The first set got off to a quick start as the Wolfpack were hot early and led quickly 8-2 before the Flames were forced to take a quick timeout. The Flames would come out hot from the timeout and score 5 of the next 6 points forcing Coach Luka Slabe to take a timeout for NC State with the score 9-7. The Wolfpack would lead 16-12 at the midway point in the first after a point-reversal timeout that led to an overturned point. The Wolfpack and Flames would trade the next 8 points until a timeout by the Flames was taken with the Wolfpack leading 20-16.
The Wolfpack would close out the set with a service error by the Flames and the Pack would take set 1 25-22 to take the 1-0 lead. Madison Williams and Courtney Bryant led the Pack with 3 kills each. Kate Peterson led the way in assists with 5 and Naomi Cabello had 3 for the Pack. Amanda Rice led the team with 5 digs followed by Courtney Bryant and Skye Stokes with 4 each.
The second set started with the teams going back and forth early as the first 12 points were traded to lead to the early 6-6 tie. Liberty would get the next 2 in a row giving them an 8-6 leading to another Wolfpack timeout. The Wolfpack would take 5 of the next 8 points to take an 11-10 lead. Skye Stokes would earn her 150th ace in her career giving the Wolfpack a 14-11 lead forcing a Flames timeout. After the timeout, Skye Stokes would serve the Pack to 4 straight points to give the Pack an 18-11 lead. The Pack would take 7 of the next 9 scored after the initial Flames timeout to take a 21-13 lead. The Flames took another timeout down 21-13. The Wolfpack would close out the set with a Naomi Cabello ace to win the set 25-15.
Courtney Bryant led the Pack in kills with 6 at the end of the 2nd set. Peterson led the Pack in assists with 9 and Skye Stokes and Amanda Rice led the Pack in digs with 8 each.
The 3rd set started a lot like the first 2 sets as the teams traded points early with Pack holding an early 7-6 lead. The Flames would take the lead 9-8 as the teams continued to trade points. The Wolfpack would take the lead 15-13 midway through the 3rd. Out of the timeout, the Flames would regain the lead with 5 straight points to take a 18-15 lead which led to a Wolfpack timeout. The Flames would carry that lead to 22-19 late in the third which led to another Wolfpack timeout. The Wolfpack would stave off 2 set points, however the Flames would earn the next 2 points to win the set 26-24.
The fourth set began much the same way as the earlier 3 sets with the Flames and Wolfpack trading points frequently until the Wolfpack earned 3 straight points to take a 9-6 lead. The lead was 12-8 when the Flames would challenge but the point was upheld. At the media timeout, the Wolfpack would extend their lead out to 15-10. The Wolfpack would force a timeout with the score 18-12 in favor of NC State. Liberty would take a final timeout of the match with the score 21-13 as the Flames attempted to keep the match ongoing. They would be unsuccessful though as the Pack would win the 4th and deciding set 25- 15 giving NC State the 3-1 win.
Next up for the Wolfpack is the South Florida Invitational in Tampa on Friday afternoon at 4PM EST against North Florida and Saturday at 2PM against South Florida.
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