NC State volleyball split its two matches versus Wake Forest and Duke at Broughton High School’s Holliday Gym Friday and Sunday.
In an exciting four-set match, the Wolfpack (12-4, 1-3 ACC) duked it out against the Deacons (9-6, 1-2 ACC) to win 3-1.
“We have to come out better in the first set, but once we get going we’re in good shape,” NC State head coach Bryan Bunn said.
Freshman Blayke Hranicka had quite a night on the court. The Colorado native collected a career-best 17 kills and four service aces. Junior libero Rachel Eppley made 22 digs on the night, a personal best. Junior setter Maggie Speaks was fired up as well. Speaks made 50 assists and 11 digs, her third double-double for the season.
Wake Forest came out ready to play, and it showed as they took the first set by 10 points. NC State came back strong in the second set, but it was still an uphill battle. Neither team led by more than four points in the set. Senior setter Tanna Aljoe’s service ace clinched it 27-25 for the Pack.
The back-and-forth play continued at the start of the third set until NC State took a seven-point run to make it 21-19. The Pack was able to keep the Deacons at bay to take the set 25-22. Senior Morgan Cormier took the match for the Pack with her kill 27-25.
“I think we can beat any team in this conference,” Bunn said. “We have a young group, but we have to believe we are equal to everyone we compete against.”
State’s Sunday match, however, didn’t end as well for the Pack. Duke (7-7, 2-2 ACC) rushed out to an 8-3 lead in the first set. Two exciting kills by Cormier brought the score to 8-12 and then 10-19. A service ace by Hranicka gained the Pack another point, but Duke took the first set 25-12.
It was a long second set as the score tied 11 times. Kearney, Hranicka and Ramsey were on fire at the net with kills that clinched essential points for the Pack. A service error by Duke, followed by kills by Brown and Hranicka and a block by Hranicka and Cormier clinched the second set for the Wolfpack 28-26.
Porter showed up strong in the third set with a kill taking the first point for the Pack. Porter had a service ace before two Duke service errors brought the score to 20-14 in favor of the Wolfpack. Ramsey had three kills before the end of the set, with a kill by Brown taking the third set for NC State 25-16.
“I was a little nervous because I have big shoes to fill to reach Maggie’s level,” Porter said. “My teammates were really encouraging, and that is what helped the most.”
The fourth set began in several tie scores. Cormier had a service ace which tied it at two, and a kill by Porter tied the score at three. Then, an intense rally tied the score at 12. Ramsey hit a kill right through a Duke block to tie the score at 13, and Brown followed right behind with a kill at 14-13. Duke pulled away to take the fourth set 25-20.
“[Porter] did a nice job,” Bunn said. “She was a little nervous obviously, but her set location was good.”
Duke took a 7-3 lead in the fifth set before an NC State timeout. A service ace by Hranicka tied it at 11, with another service ace from the freshman making the score 12-11. The Blue Devils took the fifth set 15-12 and ultimately the match 3-2.
The Pack returns to action Wednesday against the arch-rival Tar Heels.
