WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University

NC State Volleyball Sweeps Virginia, 3-0, to Guarantee First ACC Winning Season Since 1988

Nov 16, 2012

Raleigh, N.C. — NC State's record-setting volleyball team guaranteed its first winning ACC record since 1988 with a victory over Virginia at Reynolds Coliseum on Friday night.

The Wolfpack (21-8, 11-7) extended its school record for league wins to 11 with the 25-19, 25-16, 25-17 victory. The Pack's last winning mark against conference competition was when the 1988 team was a perfect 6-0 to win the regular-season.

"It was nice," said third-year Wolfpack coach Bryan Bunn. "We served well and we took care of the ball. They had a tough time to get into a rhythm against us."

State served the ball well all night, led by sophomore Alston Kearns' three service aces, which matches her career high. As a team, the Pack had seven aces, while Virginia had only one with eight service errors.

The Pack outhit the Cavaliers in all three sets, finishing with a .305 to .097 swinging advantage.
Sophomore Dariyan Hopper led NC State with 10 kills on .400 hitting. Junior Brie Merriwether and sophomore Nikki Glass had seven each, while sophomore Rachel Buckley added six.

Senior Megan Cyr had 31 assists, and Kearns added a team-high 13 digs.

The Wolfpack, with its 11th overall 3-0 win and its fifth in ACC play, bolted from the gate in the opening set, swinging a sizzling .355 to Virginia's .029. Hopper and Buckley led the attack, with four kills apiece, while Merriwether was a perfect 3-for-3 on attacks.

The final margin was bigger in the second set, which the Pack won 25-16, though the hitting difference wasn't as large. State hit .219 to Virginia's .027.

After the 10-minute break, the Wolfpack continued to cruise, making short work in the third set with a 25-17 victory.

The Wolfpack will play its final home match of the regular season on Saturday at 5 p.m. against Virginia Tech. The Wolfpack beat the Hokies 3-1 in Blacksburg, Va., earlier this season.

"We have to serve well again and keep them out of their rhythm," Bunn said. "That's always the key to volleyball, to serve tough. We have to take care of the ball like we did tonight."

Senior co-captains Megan Cyr and Alexa Micek will be honored for their three-year contributions to the program in a prematch ceremony.