The NC State volleyball team dropped two games this weekend, falling to Boston College and Syracuse 1-3 on its road trip to the Northeast.
The Wolfpack (14-11, 3-10 ACC) lost its four-set game against the Eagles (11-14, 3-10 ACC) in Power Gym Friday night, breaking the Pack’s seven-match win streak against BC.
Both teams came out full throttle in the first set as the score tied 14 times and the lead changed four times. Halfway through, State and Boston College had 14 apiece before the Eagles scored three unanswered points. Senior Morgan Cormier had the Pack set up for set point with her kill before the Eagles took the set 26-24.
The Wolfpack started strong in the second set, taking a fast 9-8 lead. State continued the lead to 16-11 before Boston College forced an NC State timeout after making the lead only two points. Sophomores Perry Ramsey and Kaitlyn Kearney scored key points for the Wolfpack. Ramsey’s kill at 23-19 kept the Pack ahead, and Kearney’s consecutive kills clinched the second set victory 25-20.
In the third set, the Pack’s offense couldn’t match the Eagles, and State lost the set 25-12. The Wolfpack did better in the fourth set, keeping Boston College within a few points despite the Eagles maintaining the lead. At 15-13, Boston College went on an eight-point run before taking the set 25-15.
Sophomore Julia Brown led the Pack with 15 kills with freshman Blayke Hranicka right behind with 12 on the match. Junior Rachel Eppley had 17 digs.
The Wolfpack then traveled to Syracuse 18-7 (9-5 ACC) to take on the Orange Sunday afternoon.
State and Syracuse battled for control early on in the first set, tying the score several times before the Orange took a seven-point lead 13-6. Syracuse extended its lead to 19-11 forcing an NC State timeout. Kills by Ramsey, Brown and Speaks shortened the lead, but Syracuse took the first set 25-17.
The second set started similarly with NC State trying to break the Orange’s run, taking a timeout at 4-9. The Pack’s offense made several attack errors, allowing the Orange to lead 12-5 before taking another timeout. Consecutive kills by Kearney helped the Pack edge the score toward the end, but Syracuse powered through to 25-17.
NC State came out strong in the third set rushing to a 12-5 lead with a change in setter, from Speaks to freshman Becky Porter. Syracuse went on a four-point run to shorten the lead to 13-10. A kill by Brown forced an Orange timeout at 16-11. A kill by freshman Teni Sopitan kept the Pack ahead by four, 18-14. State pushed through to take the set 25-20.
Freshman Kassie Kasper began the fourth set with a service ace for the Pack. Syracuse beat the Pack to point 15, taking a lead of five points before State took a timeout. The Orange continued to push, taking a seven-point lead, 20-13. A kill by Ramsey brought the Pack to 15, but Syracuse was already two points from set point. Ramsey fought set point with another kill, but it wasn’t enough. The Orange took the set 25-16 and the match 3-1.
NC State recorded more kills than Syracuse, with a margin of 54-52.
The Wolfpack returns to Raleigh to take on Virginia Tech at Carmichael Gym Friday night.
