Final: NC State 3 Virginia 0
Raleigh, NC- On Sunday the NC State Wolfpack (16-5, 6-4) played host to the Virginia Cavaliers (8-12, 1-9) after a tough loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers on Friday night. The stage was set in Reynolds Coliseum for the Wolfpack to rebound against a struggling Virginia team who had lost 10 straight matches to the Pack. The last time these teams met, Freshman Ava Brizard had 17 kills for the Pack in the win.
The first set started out quickly for the Wolfpack, earning a quick 6-3 lead which led to a quick timeout from Virginia. After the timeout the Wolfpack scored 3 more quick points and took a 9-3 lead. The Wolfpack extended the lead to 15-6 before the Cavaliers took another timeout. The Wolfpack finished out the set winning 10 of the next 16 points to take the first set 25-12. The Pack was led by Courtney Bryant and Ava Brizard in kills while Naomi Cabello led the team in assists through the first set.
The second set started with both teams trading points until the score was 8-8. NC State scored 7 of the next 9 points to take a 15-10 lead which led to a Virginia timeout. Out of the timeout, the Cavaliers would score the next four points until the Wolfpack regained control of the set and took a 22-18 lead leading to a Virginia timeout. Courtney Bryant finished the set with 2 service aces and 8 total kills. NC State finished the 2nd set on 5-0 scoring run and took the set 25-18.
The third set began with the teams alternating points to a 5-5 tie. NC State scored 4 of the next five points before the Cavaliers halted the short scoring run. The teams continued to trade points up until midway through the third set with NC State leading 13-12. The Wolfpack led 18-15 after a referee review. Virginia would take 4 of the next 5 points leading to an NC State timeout with the score tied at 19. Virginia took a 23-21 lead late in the third forcing the Wolfpack to take another timeout. After the timeout, NC State scored 3 straight points to make it 24-23. The game was tied at 25 when NC State scored the next 2 to earn the 27-25 set win and match win.
Next up for NC State is a Friday night match with Duke in Durham.
