Tweet

	1	2	3	4	5	F
Virginia Tech (11-8)	25	24	32	15	15	3
NC State (14-7)	22	26	30	25	10	2
Reynolds Coliseum - 362 Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Virginia Tech volleyball team was able to hold off the NC State Wolfpack as it claimed a 3-2 (25-22, 24-26, 32-30, 15-25, 15-10) victory in at Reynolds Coliseum on Friday evening. The loss is the fifth straight five-set loss for the Wolfpack, all of those coming in conference, while the Hokies claim their third five-set victory through five matches.

Cara Baarendse led Tech’s offense as she threw down 15 kills to go along with her 10 digs for her third double-double of the year, while Samantha Gostling also recorded double-digit kills with 11 on the night. Three players reached double figures in kills for NC State as Dariyan Hopper paced the squad with 21.

Tech (11-8, 4-4 ACC) jumped out to an early lead in the opening set as it put together a 6-0 run after breaking a 3-3 tie. Though NC State (14-7, 2-6 ACC) got close and even tied things up again, this time at 20 apiece, the Hokies would never trail and went on to take the first set, 25-22. Despite falling, the Wolfpack took the kills edge 12-10, but Tech took the advantage at the net with four total blocks, compared to NC State’s two.

The Hokies again distanced themselves early on to begin the second set, including an 8-1 run to take a 13-5 lead. The Wolfpack used a lengthy run of their own to rally back into it as they threw down nine straight points while Tech had match point to take the set, 26-24 and even the match at 1-1. NC State once again held the kills advantage, 16-12, five of which came from Margaret Salata.

Close play began the third set and would remain throughout. Numerous ties and lead changes would theme the set that saw NC State in the lead for much of game. After the Wolfpack tied things up at 20 apiece, the two teams would tie the set nine times before the Hokies were able to close out, 32-30, after a kill from Jennifer Wiker and a NC State attacking error. Hitting at a .240 clip, Tech tallied 18 kills, five of which were thrown down by Baarendse. The Wolfpack kept it close with 17 kills in the set as Salata and Hopper combined for 11 of those with five and six kills, respectively.

In response to the Hokies’ third-set victory, NC State went into the fourth set ready to fight. The Wolfpack took an early lead and never looked back. They never trailed in the set and though they allowed Tech to get close, never allowed a tie either. Taking the set 25-15, NC State hit at a .281 clip while holding Tech to a -.024 hitting percentage.

Neither team was willing to go down easy as the deciding set began with back-and-forth play, but a block from Wiker and a kill from Victoria Hamsher sparked Tech and allowed it to jump out to a slight lead. The Hokies never gave up that edge and eventually took the set and the match with three straight kills, two from Wiker and one from Baarendse, by a score of 15-10. Tech boasted its best hitting percentage of the match as it hit at a .533 clip, but the Wolfpack took the kills edge, 9-8.

Justine Record notched her third 20-plus digs match in five outings as she scooped up 20. At the net, Hamsher and Kathryn Caine were a big part of Tech’s 16.5 total blocks as they each assisted on six blocks.

Salata and Nicole Glass rounded out the kills leaders for NC State with 13 and 10, respectively. Kelly Wood led the defense with a match-high 27 digs, while Megan Cyr tossed up a whopping 52 assists in the match.

The Hokies will return to action in exactly one week as they host Georgia Tech on Friday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.

For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_VBall).