Virginia Falls 3-0 at NC State
Oct. 13, 2017
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Virginia volleyball team (4-14, 0-7 ACC) fell 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-17) to NC State (12-6, 7-0 ACC) on Friday night in Reynolds Coliseum.
“We did not match the level of play that NC State played tonight,” head coach Aaron Smith said. “We were not able to get them out of their system, which gave our defense trouble. While we had some nice stretches, it just wasn’t enough tonight.”
Freshman Alex Spencer (Canton, Ohio) led UVA with 10 kills on a .444 hitting percentage. Junior Harley Sebastian (Atlanta, Ga.) added nine kills and sophomore Chino Anukwuem (East Hanover, N.J.) had eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage with two blocks. Julia Brown led NC State with 12 kills.
Virginia scored the first point of the set on a kill by Spencer. UVA and NC State traded points with three ties before two-straight points put the Wolfpack in front, 6-4. The Cavaliers scored three of the next four points to tie the set 7-7. Virginia would regain the lead, 9-8, with a kill by sophomore Jelena Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) followed by a block for Young, but the set remained close with four ties. NC State would take a 16-13 lead on a 5-1 run, but UVA scored three-straight with two kills by Spencer to tie it up again. However, NC State would go back in front with a 7-2 run. A kill by redshirt sophomore Kat Young (Chantilly, Va.) and a block for Novakovick and Anukwuem cut it to 24-20, but the Wolfpack would win the set 25-20
The second set was close with both teams going on 3-0 runs to be tied 6-6. It remained close until a kill by Spencer and ace for sophomore Kelsey Miller (Crestwood, Ky.) gave UVA a 10-9 lead. The Wolfpack hit right back with a 3-0 run to lead 12-10. The Cavaliers cut it to one twice, before a 5-0 run put NC State ahead 18-12. The Cavaliers used a 5-1 run to hold off three set points, but NC State held on to take the set 25-19.
Virginia went up 2-1 on kills by Novakovic and Anukwuem to begin the third set. There were six ties to begin the set, but NC State would go ahead 13-8 with a 7-2 run. Virginia began to close the gap and cut the Wolfpack lead to 19-16 on a kill by Novakovic. NC State closed out the set on a 6-1 run to win 25-17 and clinch the match.
Virginia was out-hit, .362-.200, by NC State. The Wolfpack led in blocks (10.0-5.0), aces (4-2) and digs (42-40).
Virginia will take on North Carolina on Saturday (Oct. 14) at 5:30 p.m. at Carmichael Arena in Chapel Hill, N.C.