LATE COMEBACK BID FALLS SHORT IN VOLLEYBALL’S LOSS TO NC STATE

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Dariyan Hopper had a match-high 15 kills to lead NC State to a three-set sweep (25-15, 25-21, 32-30) of Sacramento State in the second round of the Hampton Inn & Suites West Ashley Volleyball Invitational Saturday morning at TD Arena.

The loss dropped the Hornets to 0-2 at the two-day, three-match tournament, which included a 3-1 loss to host College of Charleston last night. This morning's match began at 7 a.m. PDT, less than 14 hours after Sacramento State finished its match yesterday evening. The Hornets will play their final match of the tournament later today at 1:30 p.m. PDT against Jacksonville.

Sacramento State had chances to win both the second and third sets as the Hornets held a 20-18 advantage in the second set before the Wolfpack (2-0) finished the frame on a 7-1 run. In the third set, it was Sacramento State that went on a late charge, nearly overcoming a 24-18 deficit. In fact, the Hornets came all the way back to tie the set at 24-24, and had three set points at 27-26, 28-27 and 29-28, but could not pull out the win. At 30-30, NC State received back-to-back kills from Megan Cyr and Alesha Wilson, respectively, to close the match.

Sacramento State was limited to 32 kills, 37 digs and a .156 hitting percentage. Conversely, the Wolfpack hit .232 with 54 kills and 58 digs. The Hornets continued to block well, posting 10.0 team blocks after finishing with 12.0 last night.

Outside hitter Jessie Genger led the Hornets in kills (11) for the second straight match while also finishing with eight digs and two blocks. Middle blocker Ashley Newcomb, who redshirted last season, had three kills, a team-best .375 hitting percentage and career-high seven blocks. Three of those blocks were solo stuffs. Outside hitter Janelle Currey had eight kills, rightside hitter Kayla Beal finished with seven kills and three blocks and libero Sydney Kordic had a team-high 15 digs and three aces. All three of the Hornets' aces in the match came from the right hand of Kordic.

Hopper (15) and Nikki Glass (13) were the lone NC State players with double digits in kills while Glass also posted a match-high 16 digs. Cyr had 48 assists, 20 more than any other player on the floor.