Morale has dipped for the NC State volleyball team, which lost both games to in-state rivals No. 25 North Carolina and Duke, and things are looking bleak ahead of a tough conference schedule.
The Pack has to take its wins when it can get them, remaining optimistic and building as a team is what’s important right now. Head coach Megan Wargo-Kearney wants to introduce a new culture to NC State volleyball, and, with time and resilience, culture will be made.
“Just proud of them,” Wargo-Kearney said after the 3-1 loss to the Tar Heels. “I think that we’re building a really special young group here. It’s going to be pretty fun to see in a couple of years what these guys develop into.”
The Pack welcomed seven new freshmen to the team this year, so it is expected that the level of play might not be as polished as a team filled with veteran players. Senior outside hitter Courtney Bryant and senior middle blocker Sophie Groom are two of four seniors that Wargo-Kearny relies on to help push her squad through tough stretches of the season. These seniors are seen more as mentors trying to lay foundations for seasons to come.
“[Bryant]’s the one who if something’s not going right, and especially in practice, she’s gonna call people out,” Wargo-Kearney said. “Sophie, even though right now she’s not available to us, Sophie’s ready to go in terms of the leadership role.”
These seniors hold important roles during games, as their high IQ and teammate skills help the Wolfpack stay in the game even when it is down. They help build confidence among the younger players, sparking defensive and offensive stands that win games. Each game helps the team develop into a tight-knit unit, where they can dig deep and lean on each other to win games.
“With how many newer players we have out there, [every game] just gives us confidence down the road, especially if you drop a first set, and can come back and just keep going,” Wargo-Kearney said after a 3-1 win over South Carolina.
Conference matchups against No. 22 Miami, No. 11 SMU, No. 6 Louisville and No. 4 Stanford are all top 25 opponents that the Wolfpack has to endure. These games are favored heavily against the Pack, but if it plays these teams like it played its last two matches, it will fall quickly to any of these teams.
“We have an inexperienced crew with a lot of youth out there,” Wargo-Kearney said. “I think that’s a fact. That’s not an excuse, right? So we have to learn and find our way out of things.”
The Pack started off the season rolling, posting a 5-1 record and beating some tough preseason opponents. Wargo-Kearney believed the preseason would prepare them for ACC play, but the Wolfpack could be looking at an 0-3 start in conference play if it loses its next game to the Hurricanes. This is Wargo-Kearney’s first year at the helm after spending five years as an assistant, which provided insight into how challenging ACC play can be.
“Coastal is going to be a pretty tough battle for us,” Wargo-Kearny said in the preseason. “So it’s just not getting any easier for us. And then we have a tough VCU, which has taken down some good teams, which then rolls us into the ACC, so all these matches prepare us for that.”
As the season goes deeper, the women will look to capitalize on home games, where the Wolfpack has gone 26-7 since 2023. Nevertheless, the Wolfpack is in for a tough season that will test the team’s ability to persevere and continue to build a winning culture here in Raleigh.
