NC State volleyball took the court against No. 12 Creighton for its season opener in Omaha, Nebraska as part of the Bluejay Invitational and was swept 3-0 by the host team.
NC State’s 2024 squad is a veteran roster looking to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017. There is no better first test for the Pack than a top-ranked Creighton team on the road. In 2023, Creighton went on to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Louisville.
The Wolfpack (0-1) entered the matchup hoping to secure an early big win to boost its resume but the Bluejays (1-0) proved to be too much, finishing the game leading in both attacks and kills.
The first set started slow for the Pack as it fell to a 6-1 deficit, where it recorded two errors. The Pack gained some momentum late in the first set via four kills from senior opposite hitter Amanda Rice and three from junior outside hitter Ava Brizard, but it was too little too late as Creighton took the opening set 25-18.
The Pack took an early 8-6 lead in the second set. Led by five kills from Rice, NC State was neck and neck with Creighton for most of the set before the Bluejays pulled away at the end to win set two, 25-20.
In the third set, the Wolfpack was no match for the Bluejays. Creighton went on a 7-0 run to go up 13-5. The Pack didn’t recover, and it cost it the match as Creighton won the final set 25-13.
Creighton’s front row overpowered the Wolfpack, especially on the offensive side as it outattacked NC State 104-97 and out-killed it 49-32. The Bluejays also proved to be a problem on the defensive side, out-blocking the Pack 7-3.
Even though the red-and-white did not prevail, the challenge will still prove to be a good test for the future. In the ACC, NC State plays Louisville, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech and Florida State who are all in the preseason Top 25 Poll.
The Wolfpack will play its next game in the Bluejay Invitational on Saturday against Drake. The game is slated to start at 3:30 p.m.
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