Volleyball Falls to NC State

Thursday, October 13

LOUISVILLE, KY

7:00 PM

University of Louisville

6-11, 1-6

NC STATE

11-8, 4-3

NC STATE

Louisville

October 13, 2016 | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

Cards block well but fall 3-0

By: Nancy Worley

Melanie McHenry's 12 kills and the University of Louisville women's volleyball team's 11.5 blocks weren't enough as the Cardinals fell 3-0 to the NC State Wolfpack Thursday night at the KFC Yum! Center.

The Cardinals (6-11, 1-6) fell 25-23, 25-20, 25-23. UofL hit .155, had 11.5 blocks, and five aces. Melanie McHenry led the Cardinals with 12 kills while Tess Clark added nine. Jasmine Bennett added six blocks. NC State aced six services and was led by Julia Brown's 16 kills to improve its record to 11-8, 4-3.

"I am proud of Tess Clark and her ability to stay consistent." UofL head coach Anne Kordes said after the loss. "We are dealing with the loss of Janelle Jenkins and having to tweak the lineup. In doing so, we hurt our serve receive. I liked our push back in game three, but it was too late. Bottom line, we are in a tough situation and we have to adjust because it's sink or swim. We will figure it out. We are all in this together – coaches, staff, and players."

After a long rally for the first point to start the match, the Cardinals battled with the Wolfpack to an early 4-4 tie. Short runs for each team of two and three kept the set close throughout the set, which featured 11 ties and five lead changes. Louisville jumped out to a 14-11 lead, but NC State came back to tie it and eventually take a 20-18 lead, forcing the Cardinals to take their first timeout. The Cardinals responded with a 4-1 run and the Wolfpack called their final timeout to regroup. That break would be the difference, as NC State responded with a 4-1 run themselves to seal the first set victory, 25-23.

The second set started with a Louisville point, on a kill by Maggie DeJong. The Wolfpack responded with a 3-0 run to take the lead. Louisville kept it close, tying it two more times in the match, but a 7-2 NC State run gave the Wolfpack a 16-10 run. Kills by Melanie McHenry, Morgan Miller, and Tess Clark kept the second set close, but they weren't able to string together a run large enough to put pressure on NC State, who took the second set 25-20, and a 2-0 set lead into the break.

The Cardinals fell behind early with a score of 6-2, forcing Louisville to call their first timeout in the third set. Louisville responded big with a 15-5 run, featuring seven kills from McHenry, two aces from Kali Eaken, and two NC State timeouts to take a 17-11 lead. The Wolfpack regrouped and went on a 7-1 run to tie the match at 18 apiece and Louisville called its final timeout. A kill and block by DeJong and a kill from Miller gave the Cardinals a 21-19 lead, but it wasn't enough as NC State would go on a 7-2 run and give the Wolfpack a 25-23 third set and match victory.

Louisville will be back in action at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16 when they host No. 8 North Carolina at the KFC Yum! Center.