NC State volleyball head coach Luka Slabe released the non-conference slate for the 2024 campaign Friday afternoon.

Before the season begins, the Pack will host an exhibition match against Davidson on Friday, Aug. 24. The match will be free and open to the public.

The Wolfpack will open the season at the Bluejay invitational hosted by Creighton on Aug. 30. NC State will face the Bluejays at 6 p.m. before battling with Drake on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 2:30 p.m. The Pack will wrap up play on Sunday, Sept. 1, against Missouri at 12 p.m.

Liberty University will visit Reynolds Coliseum on Tuesday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m. before NC State heads to Florida for the South Florida Invitational. The Pack will face North Florida on Friday, Sept. 13th, at 4 p.m. before facing host USF on Saturday, Sept. 14, at 2 p.m.

The Pack's final two non-conference matches are slated for Sept. 20 and 22. NC State will host the second annual Summit Hospitality Group Open, with matchups against VCU (9/20) and Coastal Carolina (9/22).

NC State will begin Atlantic Coast Conference play on Sept. 27 at home against Virginia Tech at 7 pm.

Single-match and season tickets for the 2024 season are on sale now and available to purchase at: https://gopack.com/sports/2020/6/22/volleyball-tickets.

https://gopack.com/news/2024/7/12/womens-volleyball-volleyball-releases-non-conference-slate

Now only 5 weeks away from the first game, an exhibition match against Davidson on August 24 at home in Reynolds Coliseum.

Re-posting this video from a few months back with interviews with Coach Slabe and Ava Brizard recapping last season and the spring practices/scrimmages, and the previewing the upcoming season.

IMO, this team could be very good in fall 2024 and make a "breakthrough" into the top 25 and make the NCAA tournament. They only lost a couple key contributors from last season, and are returning most of their best players.

Spring Wrap Up🎬@JGravleySPORTS sat down with @CoachSlabe and @ava_brizard to chat about the spring, team chemistry, US Team tryouts, the Paris Olympics, and more! #WhyNotUs | #GoPack pic.twitter.com/A4BvEUdwXQ

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) May 8, 2024

Saw this posted on one of the current players' IG account. These must be new uniforms debuting this season. These look great.

Media Day: ☑️

2024 Season: 🔜 pic.twitter.com/IxtcJMLJW5

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) July 26, 2024

Big Red’s Attack😵‍💫

- 1 of 2 oppo’s in the ACC to rank in the top-10 for single match attack %
- 1 of only 3 oppo’s in the nation to rank in the top 30 for best single match attack % pic.twitter.com/wzYbBa9oFw

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) July 30, 2024

WE GET TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL THIS MONTH
🥹🏐🏟️📊✈️🚌🎉🙌 pic.twitter.com/OUjuig56UN

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 1, 2024

Fun things in store this season 🎉

🔗 https://t.co/ZObbhMuWnH pic.twitter.com/GSt8V1UI2J

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 6, 2024

Gear Haul🤭 pic.twitter.com/KWmo15iAXA

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 7, 2024

Dripped out for the upcoming season💧 pic.twitter.com/8pp5J0BUep

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 8, 2024

One rep at a time💪 pic.twitter.com/e2VU7BJizs

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 8, 2024

D̶a̶y̶ o̶n̶e̶. Day won. #WhyNotUs pic.twitter.com/fixlEfAdEo

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 8, 2024

Thanks for the info.

The Wolfpack were picked 8th in the ACC (out of 18 teams) in the preseason poll, based on a vote by the league coaches.

As we've recently seen from the pre-season polls last year that picked our women's and men's basketball teams to finish in the middle of the ACC, these polls can be way off.

We finished 5th in the ACC standings in 2023:
https://theacc.com/standings.aspx?path=wvball

FSU and Miami are good teams, but I believe we will be better than them this year. We finished ahead of Miami in the final standings last year, but we lost against both FSU and Miami last year in tough 5 setters on the road. We were 12-6 in conference play last year, and Miami was 10-8 (and GT was 13-5 and Louisville 15-3). I wouldn't predict that we finish ahead of Louisville or Georgia Tech, because those are really good programs...but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility...as we beat Louisville last year, and were only 1 game behind GT in the final standings in 2023.

If we play to our potential, I could see the Wolfpack finishing around 4th or 5th in the league, in which case we would be a lock for the NCAA tournament...and would be a very solid season.

https://theacc.com/news/2024/8/1/womens-volleyball-pitt-voted-2024-acc-volleyball-preseason-favorite.aspx

Quote:

---

2024 Preseason ACC Volleyball Coaches Poll
1. Pitt (13), 285
2. Stanford (3), 268
3. Louisville (2), 265
4. Georgia Tech, 230
5. Florida State, 226
6. SMU, 199
7. Miami, 197
8. NC State, 187
9. Duke, 140
10. North Carolina, 135
11. Wake Forest, 121
12. California, 109
13. Notre Dame, 105
14. Clemson, 92
15. Boston College, 86
16. Virginia, 55
17. Virginia Tech, 37
18. Syracuse, 17

---

We're Kate days away from the first game of the 2024 campaign 🤩

(P.S. We hav an exhibition THIS Saturday at 2pm in Reynolds - admission is FREE) pic.twitter.com/g4sJ3IeIPt

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 20, 2024

All ⛽️, no brakes. pic.twitter.com/rZhfObyuSC

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 21, 2024

Moment by moment💪 pic.twitter.com/f17sMuApy3

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 23, 2024

Reminder that Wolfpack volleyball opens the season tomorrow (Saturday, August 24th) with a home exhibition match at Reynolds Coliseum at 2:00pm against Davidson. The match is open to the public and free entry (no ticket required).

Packapalooza is tomorrow from 2:00 - 10:00 pm. So I'm planning to go to the volleyball game and then check out Packapalooza after that.

Volley with the Pack - Saturday, August 24 at 9:30AM
Volley with the Pack is an exclusive 60 minute event inside Reynolds Coliseum with NC State Volleyball Players and Coaching Staff. One $1,000 donation will get you two (2) tickets to the event and will get you time on the court with the players to learn more about our team culture and play some volleyball! We will teach basic volleyball skills and run through a few games. Participants are welcome to stay afterwards to watch our pregame 60 minute "serve and pass" at 11:00AM. We play Davidson in an exhibition match at 2:00PM.

🗣️ CALLING ALL @PackVball FANS 🗣️

Your time to support is now! Join us for an exclusive 60 minute event with NC State Volleyball Players and Coaching staff! Proceeds will go to support your favorite players 🐺

Link for more info 🔗: https://t.co/QlTgvAjD0V pic.twitter.com/SOITNjPbEQ

— One Pack NIL Collective (@OnePackNIL) July 30, 2024

WE GET TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL TODAY😍

🆚 Davidson (Exhibition)
⏰ 2pm
📍 Reynolds Coliseum
🎟️ Free Admission
🖥️ No Stream pic.twitter.com/HebG1PzWQN

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 24, 2024

No days off for Big Red💪 pic.twitter.com/QnIE84T7Vl

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 24, 2024

While NC State volleyball's 3-1 exhibition win over Davidson doesn't go in the record books, it was still a valuable game for the Wolfpack.

After splitting the first two sets, the Wolfpack took control, winning the last two sets both 25-9. The game could have drastically changed direction after the second set when Davidson closed it with a 5-0 run, but the Wolfpack stood tall.

"We saw it all, the good, the bad and the ugly," said head coach Luka Slabe. "We struggled with [adjusting and adapting] at some moments, but then we figured it out. It took us too long but that's why we play matches like this."

Senior opposite hitter Amanda Rice led the team in both points and total blocks, with 14.5 and seven respectively. She was one of three Wolfpack players to eclipse the 10-point mark.

NC State didn't look itself in the first two sets, but once it shook the rust off, things began to click. The Pack's kill percentage in the first two sets averaged 0.305, while in the final two sets, it jumped to an average of 0.554.

"Even though we're a team that's been together for a while, we're still putting the pieces together," said senior middle blocker Jada Allen. "That's the point of an early season game like this."

Putting in the work in the offseason showed when the Pack refused to let off the gas at the end of the match. NC State continued to attack and didn't let up on the offensive side of the ball.

"We served consistently well enough for the last two sets, where [Davidson] struggled in that department," Slabe said. "We didn't miss much in the last couple sets and the result was right there, 25-9 and 25-9."

NC State handled Davidson's serving with relative ease, winning 73% of the points on the Wildcats' serve. The Wolfpack set the ball and attack, and no one took more advantage than junior opposite hitter Ava Brizard.

Leading the team in attacks, with 26, Brizard was all over the court making her presence felt. In her sophomore year, Brizard led the team in kills and looks to do so again to get her squad back in the postseason.

Despite closing the 2023 season on a five-game win streak and an ACC record of 12-6, NC State didn't make the NCAA tournament, a wake-up call for the group.

"[Making the NCAA tournament] was our expectation last year," Allen said. "We didn't quite get there and that's fine but that's our expectation, our goal and our mindset. Of course we want to win every day. We want to make the NCAA tournament."

The Pack can take a big step in the right direction toward the NCAA tournament when it faces its next opponent. Traveling to Omaha, Nebraska for the Bluejay Invitational, the Wolfpack will face No. 12 Creighton in its first official match of the season.

The red-and-white will face the hosts on Friday at 6 p.m.

https://www.technicianonline.com/sports/nc-state-volleyball-defeats-davidson-3-1-in-exhibition-matchup/article_0b935ec6-6289-11ef-be27-5bb46de2be0b.html

🖐️days until the real thing pic.twitter.com/dkEWNPAA2y

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 25, 2024

The NC State volleyball team is set to open the 2024 season at the Bluejay Invitational hosted by 12th-ranked Creighton on August 30 at D.J. Skol Arena. The Pack will open play against the host on Friday before facing Drake on Saturday. Play will wrap up on Sunday against Missouri

The Basics of the Matchup(s)
Friday's meeting with the Bluejays will mark just the second meeting between the two programs. The last time the two met was in 2018 and Creighton won in straight sets. Creighton won the Big East out right last season (regular season and tournament) before earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and concluding the season in the Sweet 16. The program checked in at 12 in the preseason AVCA poll.

Saturday's meeting with the Bulldogs will be the first meeting for the two. Drake finished second in the Missouri Valley last season and concluded the season in the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Volley Championship.

Sunday's match up with the Tigers will be the third between the two programs and first since 2013. Mizzou holds a 2-0 advantage over the Pack, winning both matches in straight sets. The Tigers finished seventh in the SEC last season and concluded its season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The program received votes in the preseason AVCA poll.

https://gopack.com/news/2024/8/26/womens-volleyball-wolfpack-set-to-open-season-at-bluejay-invitational

Somewhere in the corn fields🌽 pic.twitter.com/im2So22XPj

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 30, 2024

WE'RE BAAAACK!!!

🆚 No. 12 Creighton
📍 D.J. Skol Arena (Omaha, NE)
⏰ 6pm CT / 7pm ET
🖥️ FloSports ($)
📊 https://t.co/1arMW6YW31 pic.twitter.com/pq2KQWBA15

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 30, 2024

Preview
NC State volleyball looks to repeat 2023 success with style
https://www.technicianonline.com/sports/nc-state-volleyball-looks-to-repeat-2023-success-with-style/article_6a9a4236-66da-11ef-a38e-2f3ae06918cd.html

Creighton wins match 3-0
25-18
25-20
25-13

The NC State volleyball team fell to 12th-ranked Creighton, 3-0, Friday night at D.J. Skol Arena in its season opener at the Bluejay Invitational.

Breaking Down the Match
-Creighton came out of the gates hot, opening the match with a 8-2 scoring run.
-With her seventh assist of the evening, senior setter Naomi Cabello tallied the 1,000th of her career. She is the first setter under head coach Luka Slabe to achieve the milestone.
-The Pack attempted to minimize the deficit, going on two scoring runs of its own, but were unable to catch up to the Bluejays. The Bluejays took set one 25-18 and senior opposite Amanda Rice led the Pack with four kills.
-NC State took the early lead in set two after two kills by Rice and a service ace by junior Ava Brizard. The Bluejays took the lead, 10-9, after an attack error by the Pack. The two teams battled back-and-forth, but 6-2 run by the Bluejays slowed the Pack.
-Creighton took the set, 25-20. Rice led all scorers with nine kills through the second set.
-Creighton went on a 7-0 scoring run in set three to take a 13-5 lead over the Pack. The Bluejays would later take a seven-point lead (17-10), forcing Slabe to use his final timeout of the match.

-The match ended after a 6-2 scoring run by Creighton, who took set three, 25-13. Jaya Johnson led the Bluejays with 11 kills.

Stat Leaders
Kills: Amanda Rice (11)
Digs: Skye Stokes (11)
Assists: Naomi Cabello (20)
Blocks: Sophie Groom (2)
Aces: Ava Brizard (1)

Up next
NC State will return to D.J. Skol Arena for its second game of the Bluejay Invitational against Drake on Saturday, Aug. 31. First serve is set for 3:30pm ET.

https://gopack.com/news/2024/8/30/womens-volleyball-wolfpack-drops-season-opener-to-12-creighton-in-straight-sets

Wolfer79 said:

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The NC State volleyball team is set to open the 2024 season at the Bluejay Invitational hosted by 12th-ranked Creighton on August 30 at D.J. Skol Arena. The Pack will open play against the host on Friday before facing Drake on Saturday. Play will wrap up on Sunday against Missouri

The Basics of the Matchup(s)
Friday's meeting with the Bluejays will mark just the second meeting between the two programs. The last time the two met was in 2018 and Creighton won in straight sets. Creighton won the Big East out right last season (regular season and tournament) before earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and concluding the season in the Sweet 16. The program checked in at 12 in the preseason AVCA poll.

Saturday's meeting with the Bulldogs will be the first meeting for the two. Drake finished second in the Missouri Valley last season and concluded the season in the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Volley Championship.

Sunday's match up with the Tigers will be the third between the two programs and first since 2013. Mizzou holds a 2-0 advantage over the Pack, winning both matches in straight sets. The Tigers finished seventh in the SEC last season and concluded its season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The program received votes in the preseason AVCA poll.

https://gopack.com/news/2024/8/26/womens-volleyball-wolfpack-set-to-open-season-at-bluejay-invitational

---

Friday other result
Missouri beat Drake 3-0
25-16
25-14
28-26

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.

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.
https://www.technicianonline.com/sports/nc-state-volleyball-falls-to-no-12-creighton-in-season-opener/article_2dbbd094-6768-11ef-8c9d-f7d612035e00.html

New day, new opportunity

🆚 Drake
📍 D.J. Skol Arena (Omaha, NE)
⏰ 2:30pm CT/ 3:30pm ET
📊 https://t.co/woLd1hmYJf
🖥️ FloSports ($) pic.twitter.com/ifrUuT0c2C

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 31, 2024

Took advantage of the opportunity💪

Stat Leaders:
Amanda Rice - 16 kills | Naomi Cabello - 34 assists | Skye Stokes - 17 digs | Jada Allen - 7 blocks pic.twitter.com/BbzP1DEu4Y

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 31, 2024

New day, new uniforms🫢

⚪️ - team | ⚫️ - libero pic.twitter.com/kSmfrXCtv6

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 31, 2024

Jada Allen secures the win after an assist from Naomi Cabello🎉 pic.twitter.com/sVVNHssdIb

— Wolfpack Volleyball (@PackVball) August 31, 2024