Club SportsAustralian Rules Football to face defending national champs
N.C. State’s newest club sport will play two matches this weekend against teams in possession of the past three national championships, said team captain Paul Duncan.Vanderbilt, the defending champion, and North Carolina, winners of the two titles before last year, will take the field against the Wolfpack Saturday at Lee Field. “We’ve been practicing for just over three weeks now,” Duncan said.Duncan said he and two other guys on the team are the only ones who had played the sport before the team started practicing.”We’ve got 18 new guys who have never played before,” he said. “But I think we have a good chance. They [UNC and Vanderbilt] know the game better, but our athleticism will give them good matches.”Duncan said the chance to play UNC was a good recruiting tool for the new club sport.”It’s very easy to recruit people to play against UNC, no matter the sport,” Duncan said. “Our guys are excited to hit them. It’s a full-contact sport with no pads. State has trouble beating them in other sports, but this is our chance to take something from them.”The UNC game is scheduled to start at 11 a.m., and the Vanderbilt game is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.
–Brian Grossman
Women’s TennisTeam to hold “Smash Bash” this weekend for students
The women’s tennis team will hold its inaugural “Smash Bash” on Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.. The event will feature prize giveaways, free food and instructional drills for those looking to improve their game or learn about college tennis.”This will be the first one but hopefully we can do this every year,” senior Allison Barry said. “We’re trying to start a new tradition.”At its conclusion, the team will select a Most Valuable Fan, who will be awarded free gear, including a racquet and also the opportunity to be there with the team on the court for the first spring.Tennis racquets are not required to participate but an NCSU ID is.
–J. Mike Blake
FootballUNC, State will kick off at noon
The ACC has announced a noon start for the football team’s Nov. 18 game against in-state rival North Carolina at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.It will mark the sixth time N.C. State plays at noon this season, as it also plays this coming Saturday at the same time at Clemson. The team has an 0-4 record in such games thus far.The Wolfpack will also be looking to end a two-game losing streak against the Tar Heels, including a 31-24 loss last season at Carter-Finley Stadium. When State last played at Carolina, in 2004, the Pack lost 30-24 as running back T.A. McLendon couldn’t score on a last-second run near the goal line. Carolina coach John Bunting, in his sixth season, will be coaching his final game against State as he will not be retained as the Tar Heels’ coach next season. He has a 3-2 record against the Pack.
–Clark Leonard
Coming SoonFriday in Technician Sports
Check out Friday’s Technicain Sports for a look at junior tight end Anthony Hill, plus stats, keys to the game, key players and Pigskin Picks.
