Volleyball Heads to NC State Tourney

BUIES CREEK, N.C.-After notching a 2-2 split during opening weekend, Campbell returns to action this weekend in the NC State Courtyard Midtown Classic.

The Camels will kick off the tournament with Wisconsin at noon on Friday, Sep. 2 inside historic Reynolds Coliseum. CU will then play Western Carolina at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the Camels meet North Carolina A&T at 2 p.m. and close out the Courtyard Midtown Classic with the host Wolfpack at 7 p.m.

Junior outside hitter Jordan Reaves leads the Camels with 2.36 kills and 2.57 digs per set, picking up season-highs of 12 kills and 15 digs against Elon in the NC Central Tournament last Saturday.

Freshman Jessica Groen, one of nine to make their CU debuts in Durham, adds 1.90 kills per set. Kelsey Marek, a junior from Taylor, Texas, is averaging 1.77 kills and 0.62 blocks per set, while senior Annie Kobeski is recording 1.43 kills, 0.79 blocks and 0.71 aces a frame.

The Camels' first opponent of the tournament, Wisconsin, also spent last weekend in Durham, taking a 1-2 start away from the Duke Invitational. The Badgers defeated Charleston Southern 3-0 in their opener before dropping matches to Furman and No. 17 Duke.

Crystal Graff leads the Badgers at 2.58 kills and 2.00 digs per set, while Mary Ording and Bailey Reshel average 2.50 kills a set. Freshman setter Courtney Thomas collects 6.75 assists and 2.67 digs per set, with sophomore libero Annemarie Hickey adding a team-high 3.83 digs a game.

Western Carolina is 0-3 on the year, taking straight-set losses to USC Upstate, Western Michigan and Virginia in the UVa Tournament in its last outing.

Carrie Minogue paces the Catamounts at 2.56 kills and 1.11 blocks per frame, tallying 12 kills against Western Michigan and nine against USC Upstate. Abbey Scroggins and Jordan Timmermann post 1.89 kills per set each, adding 2.00 and 3.44 digs, respectively.

NC State is 2-1 coming off the Appalachian State Tournament last weekend. The Wolfpack took a 3-1 loss to the Mountaineers in the opener before sweeping Charlotte and Kennesaw State on Saturday.

Leading NCSU is senior middle Margaret Salata with 3.60 kills and 1.60 blocks per set, flanked by freshman Rachel Buckley's 3.00 kills and 1.11 blocks a frame. Junior setter Megan Cyr notches 10.70 assists, with senior libero Kelly Wood tallying 4.00 digs per set.

Last time the Camels took part in the NC State Classic, Campbell came away with the tournament title in 2009. CU is 4-8 all-time against NC State, but has won the last two over the Wolfpack (2009, 2010). Campbell, however, is 0-4 against WCU, but has not faced the Catamounts since 2004. The Badgers have never lined up with Campbell. In fact, the only Big Ten opponent the Camels have ever faced came just last season when CU took on top-ranked Penn State.

The Camels will make their 2011 home debut next Tuesday, Sep. 6, hosting UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m. inside the Pope Center.