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Duke Set for Rivalry Weekend at UNC, NC State
10/21/2021 2:00:00 PM | Volleyball
DURHAM – The Duke volleyball team will stay in the Triangle for a pair of matches this weekend against in-state foes.
The Blue Devils will make the short trip down Tobacco Road to take on North Carolina Friday at 6 p.m., in Carmichael Arena before a 4 p.m., contest against NC State in Raleigh. Friday's match will be broadcast on ACCNX while fans can catch the Blue Devils Sunday on ACCN.
LAST TIME OUT
Duke went 1-1 on the road over the weekend. The Blue Devils swept Clemson Friday evening before dropping a 3-0 match at No. 16 Georgia Tech.
Against Clemson, Duke was led by senior Ade Owokoniran with nine kills as the team hit .250 percent. Moorea Wood added eight for a .357 showing while Gracie Johnson registered seven. Setter Alex Springate dished 26 assists as she found seven Blue Devils. Defensively, Payton Schwantz led the team with 12 digs while Georgia Stavrinides reeled in five blocks.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SERIOUS
NORTH CAROLINA: Duke and North Carolina will meet for the 119th time in program history. Both squads are very familiar with one another as it's rare to not meet twice in a season. North Carolina holds a 63-55 advantage in the series and have won four of the past five outings. Duke is 19-28 all-time in Chapel Hill.
NC STATE: The Blue Devils hold a 69-38 all-time lead in the series and have won four of the past six matchups. The Blue Devils are 24-21 in Raleigh.
Since 1971, Duke has combined to face North Carolina and NC State over 220 times in program history.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina (16-4, 5-4 ACC) has won five straight and is coming off a 3-1 victory over NC State Wednesday night. The Tar Heels are featured in the top five of seven different categories, highlighted by hitting percentage (5th: .263), assists (4th: 913) and kills (4th: 998). Offensively, Nia Robinson leads the way with 269 kills for a .281 hitting percentage to rank fourth in the ACC, while Mabrey Shaffmaster is just behind her with 238 kills. Setter Meghan Neelon owns 573 assists and four different Tar Heels own 100-plus digs. At the net, Kaya Merkler leads the way with 63.0 blocks.
NC STATE: NC State was riding a four-match win streak before suffering a 3-1 setback Wednesday at North Carolina. The Wolfpack rank second in the ACC in kills (1,008) and third in assists (932). Jade Parchment (260 kills) and Melissa Evans (258 kills) pace NC State offensively,sitting sixth and eighth, respectively, in hitting percentage in the ACC. Setter Kristen McDaniel has dished 544 assists for a 9.2 assists/set average, and five different Wolfpack own 100-plus digs this season. Defensively, Jada Allen (54.0) and Riley Shaak (50.0) lead the team in blocks.
COLE RANKS AMONG THE BEST
Senior libero Mackenzie Cole is ranked 32nd on the NCAA active career leaders list with 1,507 career digs to date. She needs 185 to move into the top 20. She is also currently tabbed eighth on the Duke all-time charts and needs 50 to move to seventh.
Cole has been one of Duke's top defensive specialists during her time in Durham and has 19 games with 20-plus digs. Her career-high of 29 came against North Carolina on November 17, 2018. She also owns 112 service aces, becoming the 18th player in Duke history to reach the milestone.
This season, she owns 270 digs for a 4.2 digs/set average to rank second in the ACC and helps the team to rank sixth. Cole became the 12th person in Duke history with 1,000 digs and 100 aces.
SPIKE OUT CANCER
The Duke volleyball team is excited to continue its partnership with the Duke Cancer Institute's Teen and Young Adult Oncology Program this season with the Spike Out Cancer initiative. The Blue Devils will dedicate their games against North Carolina (Oct. 22 and Nov. 26) to help raise awareness about and support for teen and young adult cancer. With your support, every spike made by the Blue Devils during these two matches will raise funds for the Duke Cancer Institute's TYAO Program.
In February of 2019, former Duke volleyball player Jessi Bartholomew ('19) was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma shortly after finishing her senior season. She completed six months of chemotherapy as well as two weeks of radiation and is currently in remission. To pledge any amount per spike, or make a one-time donation, please click here.
ON PACE WITH AN ACE
Duke is second in the ACC in service aces with 110 (1.7 aces/set) as 12 different Blue Devils have at least one.
Mackenzie Cole leads the team with 26, followed by Gracie Johnson with 25 and Taylor Cole (18). Mackenzie Cole is fourth in the ACC while Johnson sits sixth. In 2020, the Blue Devils finished the season with 102 aces and 111 in 2019.
SPARK OFF THE BENCH
Junior outside hitter Moorea Wood has proven to be a big spark off the bench for the Blue Devils the last few weeks. Against No. 2 Pitt, Wood came in to hit .500 percent with seven kills and just two errors to go along with two blocks. In the setback against Florida State, Wood added a career-high 14 kills to hit .367. This season, she's hitting .291 percent.
MILESTONES TO WATCH
Two Blue Devils are approaching milestones in their careers: Ade Owokoniran and Payton Schwantz. Owokoniran has 983 kills to date and Schwantz checks in with 902 career digs as they look to reach the 1,000-career milestone.
UP NEXT
Duke welcomes Notre Dame and No. 2 Louisville to Cameron Indoor Stadium for two matches Oct. 29 and Oct. 31.
For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".
#GoDuke
The Blue Devils will make the short trip down Tobacco Road to take on North Carolina Friday at 6 p.m., in Carmichael Arena before a 4 p.m., contest against NC State in Raleigh. Friday's match will be broadcast on ACCNX while fans can catch the Blue Devils Sunday on ACCN.
LAST TIME OUT
Duke went 1-1 on the road over the weekend. The Blue Devils swept Clemson Friday evening before dropping a 3-0 match at No. 16 Georgia Tech.
Against Clemson, Duke was led by senior Ade Owokoniran with nine kills as the team hit .250 percent. Moorea Wood added eight for a .357 showing while Gracie Johnson registered seven. Setter Alex Springate dished 26 assists as she found seven Blue Devils. Defensively, Payton Schwantz led the team with 12 digs while Georgia Stavrinides reeled in five blocks.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SERIOUS
NORTH CAROLINA: Duke and North Carolina will meet for the 119th time in program history. Both squads are very familiar with one another as it's rare to not meet twice in a season. North Carolina holds a 63-55 advantage in the series and have won four of the past five outings. Duke is 19-28 all-time in Chapel Hill.
NC STATE: The Blue Devils hold a 69-38 all-time lead in the series and have won four of the past six matchups. The Blue Devils are 24-21 in Raleigh.
Since 1971, Duke has combined to face North Carolina and NC State over 220 times in program history.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
NORTH CAROLINA: North Carolina (16-4, 5-4 ACC) has won five straight and is coming off a 3-1 victory over NC State Wednesday night. The Tar Heels are featured in the top five of seven different categories, highlighted by hitting percentage (5th: .263), assists (4th: 913) and kills (4th: 998). Offensively, Nia Robinson leads the way with 269 kills for a .281 hitting percentage to rank fourth in the ACC, while Mabrey Shaffmaster is just behind her with 238 kills. Setter Meghan Neelon owns 573 assists and four different Tar Heels own 100-plus digs. At the net, Kaya Merkler leads the way with 63.0 blocks.
NC STATE: NC State was riding a four-match win streak before suffering a 3-1 setback Wednesday at North Carolina. The Wolfpack rank second in the ACC in kills (1,008) and third in assists (932). Jade Parchment (260 kills) and Melissa Evans (258 kills) pace NC State offensively,sitting sixth and eighth, respectively, in hitting percentage in the ACC. Setter Kristen McDaniel has dished 544 assists for a 9.2 assists/set average, and five different Wolfpack own 100-plus digs this season. Defensively, Jada Allen (54.0) and Riley Shaak (50.0) lead the team in blocks.
COLE RANKS AMONG THE BEST
Senior libero Mackenzie Cole is ranked 32nd on the NCAA active career leaders list with 1,507 career digs to date. She needs 185 to move into the top 20. She is also currently tabbed eighth on the Duke all-time charts and needs 50 to move to seventh.
Cole has been one of Duke's top defensive specialists during her time in Durham and has 19 games with 20-plus digs. Her career-high of 29 came against North Carolina on November 17, 2018. She also owns 112 service aces, becoming the 18th player in Duke history to reach the milestone.
This season, she owns 270 digs for a 4.2 digs/set average to rank second in the ACC and helps the team to rank sixth. Cole became the 12th person in Duke history with 1,000 digs and 100 aces.
SPIKE OUT CANCER
The Duke volleyball team is excited to continue its partnership with the Duke Cancer Institute's Teen and Young Adult Oncology Program this season with the Spike Out Cancer initiative. The Blue Devils will dedicate their games against North Carolina (Oct. 22 and Nov. 26) to help raise awareness about and support for teen and young adult cancer. With your support, every spike made by the Blue Devils during these two matches will raise funds for the Duke Cancer Institute's TYAO Program.
In February of 2019, former Duke volleyball player Jessi Bartholomew ('19) was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma shortly after finishing her senior season. She completed six months of chemotherapy as well as two weeks of radiation and is currently in remission. To pledge any amount per spike, or make a one-time donation, please click here.
ON PACE WITH AN ACE
Duke is second in the ACC in service aces with 110 (1.7 aces/set) as 12 different Blue Devils have at least one.
Mackenzie Cole leads the team with 26, followed by Gracie Johnson with 25 and Taylor Cole (18). Mackenzie Cole is fourth in the ACC while Johnson sits sixth. In 2020, the Blue Devils finished the season with 102 aces and 111 in 2019.
SPARK OFF THE BENCH
Junior outside hitter Moorea Wood has proven to be a big spark off the bench for the Blue Devils the last few weeks. Against No. 2 Pitt, Wood came in to hit .500 percent with seven kills and just two errors to go along with two blocks. In the setback against Florida State, Wood added a career-high 14 kills to hit .367. This season, she's hitting .291 percent.
MILESTONES TO WATCH
Two Blue Devils are approaching milestones in their careers: Ade Owokoniran and Payton Schwantz. Owokoniran has 983 kills to date and Schwantz checks in with 902 career digs as they look to reach the 1,000-career milestone.
UP NEXT
Duke welcomes Notre Dame and No. 2 Louisville to Cameron Indoor Stadium for two matches Oct. 29 and Oct. 31.
For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".
#GoDuke
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