CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Miami volleyball hosted NC State, Sunday, cruising to a three-set victory over the Wolfpack. The Hurricanes posted impressive wins in both the first and third sets, holding on for a tight 25-23 win in the middle set.

With the victory, the Hurricanes improve to 5-8 on the season and 3-1 in ACC play, also extending their winning streak against the Wolfpack to three straight.

Miami was once again led offensively by Ruth Martinez and Asia Harvey. Martinez had 12 kills and added three blocks to lead the team with 14 points, while Harvey recorded 11 kills and a block assist.

Defensively, Lal Akin posted seven blocks and added four kills in her first start of the season. In addition to notching four kills at a .571 hitting percentage and 25 assists, Ariana Rodriguez ranked next on the team with five blocks, including combining with Akin on two straight in the pivotal third set.

Set 1: Miami 25, NC State 16
Both teams traded service errors to open the match, but NC State scored three of the next four to take a 4-2 lead over the Hurricanes. The Wolfpack held on to their lead, but Miami pushed, scoring two straight thanks to back-to-back Asia Harvey kills to tie the set at 10.

NC State quickly retook its lead before the Hurricanes tied the set at 13 and again at 14, scoring four straight points to take a three-point lead. A Miami service error awarded NC State a point, but Miami went on another 4-0 scoring run, extending its lead to six. The Wolfpack found a way to score to make it a 21-16 game, but the Hurricanes closed the set with a Harvey kill, Gaby Arroyo service ace, Ruth Martinez kill, and a Denitsa Angelova solo block.

Set 2: Miami 25, NC State 23
Miami and NC State went on to play a much tighter middle set, although momentum swung the Wolfpack’s way early. The Hurricanes took a two-point lead, but the Wolfpack scored four straight as they took a 5-3 lead. Miami then went on a small run to retake a one-point lead.

From then on, the teams traded points with neither team taking larger than a two-point lead until Miami scored five straight off kills from Sonja Danilovic and Martinez as well as two blocks, giving the Hurricanes a 15-12 lead into the technical timeout. The Canes held their lead, ultimately building it to five to lead 20-15.

Over the next eight points, NC State outscored Miami 6-2, forcing the Hurricanes to take a timeout leading by one. Miami got two of the next three, as the Wolfpack took a timeout looking down set point. NC State recorded a kill out of the timeout, but Martinez sealed the victory and sent the match to the third set.

Set 3: Miami 25, NC State 12
The Wolfpack opened a 5-2 lead early in the third set, but with Gaby Arroyo at the service line, the Hurricanes notched five straight to lead 7-5. NC State battled back to take an 8-7 lead on back-to-back Eva Long kills. Both teams traded points, and with the set tied at nine, Miami posted another 4-0 run, recording kills from Martinez, Rodriguez, and Angelova to make it 12-9.

NC State took a timeout and scored one point once play resumed, but Miami ran away with the set from there, scoring seven straight points with Olivia Durst serving to extend its lead to nine. The Wolfpack added two points, but Miami went on a 6-2 run to close the game, capped with a Danilovic service ace.

Up Next: The Hurricanes continue their homestand this coming weekend, first hosting the Clemson Tigers for their Dig Pink game on Friday, October 9. First serve is set for 7 p.m. with coverage on ACCNX.