DURHAM – The Duke volleyball team is set for an ACC midweek contest against NC State Wednesday. Opening serve is set for 8 p.m., on ACC Network. Courtney Lyle and Holly McPeak will be on the call from Cameron Indoor Stadium.
LAST TIME OUT
Duke went 1-1 over the weekend with a 3-1 loss to No. 11 Georgia Tech and a 3-2 victory over Clemson at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Despite falling to the Yellow Jackets, the Blue Devils were the first non-ranked ACC team to take a set against Georgia Tech so far this season. Senior Gracie Johnson led the team offensively with 44 kills with 4.89 kills per set and a .200 hitting percentage through two matches. Freshman Kerry Keefe added 30 kills, including a career-high 21 against Clemson, for a .338 clip. Graduate setter Devon Chang dished 97 assists, including a season-high 51, while Kadel tallied a career-high 10 blocks against the Tigers. Johnson posted her 14th-career double-double against Clemson (21k, 13d) and tallied 20 or more kills for the eighth time in her career and for the second consecutive match. Her back-to-back 20+ kill performance was the first of her career.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SERIES
Duke is 69-39 all-time against NC State dating back to 1975. The Wolfpack has secured the last two consecutive matches.
SCOUTING THE WOLFPACK
NC State enters Wednesday evening’s contest with an 11-8 record and is 5-3 in conference play. Most recently, the Wolfpack dropped a five-set match to Boston College in Raleigh. Offensively, the team is led by Ava Brizard with 219 kills, followed by Vanja Bukilic (169) and Amanda Rice (163) as NC State owns a .189 hitting percentage this season. NC State Luka Slabe uses two main setters in Kristen McDaniel and Naomi Cabello who own 366 and 307 kills, respectively. Priscilla Hernandez leads the defensive unit with 297 digs as Riley Shaak owns 82 blocks and is second in the conference, followed by Jada Allen with 71. As a team, the Wolfpack are second in the ACC in blocks (188.5) and third in total digs (1,070) and are second-to-last in aces (89).
BREAKING THE STIGMA | MORGAN’S MESSAGE
Wednesday’s contest between the Blue Devils and the Wolfpack will help to raise awareness for mental health through Morgan’s Message, a non-profit working on breaking the stigma on mental health in student-athletes in honor of former Duke…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Duke University…