With the lights illuminating Valvano Arena for the last time during the 2023 volleyball season, NC State took to the floor for one more matchup in Raleigh. It was senior night, and for graduate setter Kristen McDaniel, it was her last time ever playing in a Wolfpack uniform.
The Pack (21-7, 11-6 ACC) has had an admirable season thus far, ranking fifth in the ACC just under No. 4 Louisville, No.7 Pitt, No. 9 Georgia Tech and No. 25 Florida State. Clemson (16-12, 7-9 ACC) put up a good fight against the Wolfpack, keeping everyone on the home team under 10 kills, but in the end NC State got the upper hand to get the 3-0 win.
The Pack started the first set hot, with three kills coming courtesy of junior opposite hitter Amanda Rice and junior middle blocker Jada Allen. Sophomore outside hitter Ava Brizard quickly joined in on the fun, notching a kill of her own. The whole first set was a back-and-forth battle between the two teams, with five ties and three lead changes throughout the 25 points.
Senior defensive specialist Skye Stokes once again showed her dominance behind the service line, knocking down back-to-back service aces within the first 10 points of the first set. With a 5-0 scoring run late in the set, the Pack swiftly took the lead and never let go, winning the first set 25-20.
The second set saw the red-and-white jump to a quick 9-4 lead that it held on to throughout the rest of the set. Junior outside hitter Martyna Leoniak tallied a service ace this set, alongside four kills, with Brizard and McDaniel also tallying one ace apiece. With a 22-18 lead, the Pack went on to finish the set 25-21 and take a 2-0 set lead.
In the third set, the Tigers got to work. Despite the Wolfpack holding a 19-11 lead at one point, Clemson didn’t back down without a fight. Totalling 10 kills in the third set alone, the Tigers slowed the Pack down enough to keep themselves in the game. But what the visiting team didn’t realize was that the Pack had one of the best and most effective tools in its back pocket — a boisterous home crowd.
The cheers of the Wolfpack faithful helped elevate NC State to a 25-20 win. The final nail in the coffin was a final service ace from Stokes — her fifth of the night. In addition to the red-and-white’s dominance behind the service line — 10 service aces spread throughout the team — the team also dominated defensively at the net. With three solo blocks and eight block assists, the Pack put forth its best effort to stop the Clemson offense.
With only one more game left in the regular season, the Wolfpack will have one more opportunity to make a mark on the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. NC State will travel up to Charlottesville, Virginia to take on the Cavaliers on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m.