Final: NC State 3 Syracuse 0
November 5, 2023
Raleigh, NC- On Sunday afternoon the NC State Wolfpack (18-7, 8-6 hosted the visiting Syracuse Orange (2-22, 0-14). The Orange came into the match on a thirteen-game losing streak. lost 8 of the last 10 against the Wolfpack. The Orange came into the match in last place in the ACC and the Wolfpack sat sixth.
The first set started with a flurry of back-and-forth points. Each team traded points early in the set as the score remained tied 9-9 until the Pack scored 3 straight points to force a Syracuse timeout. After the timeout the run continued to six in a row and the lead ballooned to 15-9 midway through the first set. The lead would baloon to 17-9 on the strength of an eight point scoring run forcing the Orange in to a 2nd timeout. After the timeout the Wolfpack would score five of the next eight points and would take the set 25-15. This was the 3rd straight match with the Pack taking the 1st set.
The scoring for the Pack was split evenly among Ava Brizard, Jada Allen, and Amanda Rice with 4 kills each in the first set to pace the Wolfpack. Lily Cropper and Courtney Bryant led the team in blocks with one each. Assists were led by Kristen McDaniel with 6. Her teammate Naomi Cabello was right behind her with 5.
Both teams traded points early in the second set until the Orange went on 3-0 run to take the early lead 5-3. The Wolfpack responded with the three point run of their own to take an 8-7 lead. The lead would extend to 13-9 midway through the second set leading to the Orange taking their first timeout. The Orange would respond after the timeout with 4 of the next 6 points forcing the Pack to take their first timeout with the lead cut to 15-13. The Orange would be forced to take another timeout late in the set with the lead at 22-19 for NC State. The Pack would go on to take the set 25-20 and take a 2 set to none lead.
Brizard and Rice paced the Pack again the second set finishing with 10 kills and 8 kills respectively. McDaniel and Cabello continued to lead the match with 13 assists and 9 assists. The Wolfpack Defense was quiet in the second half as they finished with no additional blocks in the second set. Service errors remained in favor of the Orange as they finished the set with only 4. The Pack tallied 6 total to end the second.
The third set began with the Pack scoring 8 of the first 11 points. The lead pushed to 11-4 before the Orange would take their first timeout of the set. After the timeout the Pack took the next 2 to extend the lead to 13-4. The Pack would hold a 19-9 lead late in the set as the Pack seized full control. They would go on to take the set 25-14.
The Pack lead throughout the match with balanced scoring as they ended the match with 3 different players with double-digit kill totals led by Ava Brizard who finished with a match-high 14. Kristen McDaniel paced the Wolfpack in assists with 19 total for the match. Naomi Cabello finished with 13 of her own. The win gave the Pack their 18th of the season and 8th in the ACC.
Next up for the Pack is road trip next weekend to Boston College and Virginia Tech. The matches are set for Friday at 7 and Sunday at 12.
