NC State Falls to Coastal Carolina in Wolfpack Invitational

RALEIGH, N.C. – In an exciting conclusion to the Wolfpack Invitational, the NC State women’s volleyball team suffered a 3-1 defeat to Coastal Carolina. Senior outside hitter Courtney Bryant shined with a career-high of 21 kills, achieving a hitting percentage of .346 over 52 attempts.

Highlight Performances

The weekend saw a remarkable performance from Bryant, who finished with a total of 28 kills, earning her a place on the All-Tournament team. Freshman opposite Jordan Smith also impressed, tallying 31 kills throughout the tournament.

Match Summary

Set Breakdown

• First Set: Coastal Carolina started strong, taking an early 8-2 lead, which prompted NC State to call a timeout. Despite the Wolfpack’s efforts, the Chants claimed the first set 25-18, hitting an impressive .457.
• Second Set: In a reversal, NC State surged ahead 4-0 at the beginning of the second set. They maintained control, ultimately winning 25-15 after a late service error from Coastal Carolina equalized the match at one set each.
• Third Set: The Chants regained their momentum, jumping to a 7-1 lead early on. NC State struggled to minimize the gap, with Coastal Carolina clinching the set 25-18 following a critical attack error from the Wolfpack.
• Fourth Set: A competitive back-and-forth ensued, with neither team leading by more than two points. NC State surged to a 23-18 lead, but the Chanticleers rallied to score six consecutive points, sealing a close-fought set at 30-28.

Notable Contributions

In addition to Bryant’s standout performance, Smith added 14 kills, while Vondran contributed a season-high of 12 kills. Redshirt-junior setter Elaisa Villar recorded her first career double-double with 25 assists and 17 digs, along with a career best of four service aces.

Looking Ahead

The loss brings the Wolfpack’s overall record to 6-2 for the season. They will next compete at the VCU Invitational in Richmond, Virginia, scheduled for September 20 and 21.