NC State hoops, UNCW hoops and UNCW volleyball take the forefront

WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) — Nicole Lott powered UNCW with 22 kills and Meredith Peacock recorded four of her match-high eight blocks in the fifth set as the Seahawks stayed perfect in Colonial Athletic Association play following a 3-2 (24-26, 25-19, 23-25, 25-15, 15-7) win over visiting Northeastern on Friday at Hanover Hall.

The Seahawks (11-3, 2-0 CAA) remained undefeated at home with their fifth straight win, all coming in their current home stand. The Huskies, meanwhile, dropped to 4-15 overall and 1-3 in the league.

UNCW junior Kristen Powell finished the night with a career-high 17 kills, collecting six in both the first and third sets. Junior setter Alyssa Desjardins completed a double-double with a season-high 43 assists and 13 digs.

Lott, who finished one kill short of tying her career-high of 23 kills, led UNCW to a convincing win in the fourth set with eight kills as UNCW led wire-to-wire. She had five kills in each of the first two sets.

Jamie Bredahl fashioned a double-double of her own for the Huskies with 13 kills and 14 assists. She finished two digs shy of a triple-double. Brigitte Burcescu paced NU with 16 kills while Carmen Costa added 11 kills and a team-high four blocks.

Up next: The Seahawks host defending CAA Champion Hofstra on Saturday at 7 p.m. Monday’s match with Delaware has been moved to a 3 p.m. start. The Delaware match will be played in Trask Coliseum.

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HEMPSTEAD, NY (UNCW)– Senior forward Maddie McCormick (Alexis I. DuPont H.S./Newark, Del.) scored two goals, including the game-winner in the 92nd minute, to lead UNCW to a 2-1 overtime victory over Hofstra in a Colonial Athletic Association contest at Hofstra Soccer Stadium on Friday evening.

The win allowed the Seahawks to extend their unbeaten streak to nine consecutive games while improving their record to 9-3-1 overall and 2-0-1 in the CAA. Meanwhile, Hofstra had its three-game win streak snapped while dropping its record to 8-4-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the CAA.

“I am really proud of our effort tonight,” Coach Paul Cairney said. “We challenged our team to deal with the elements and to deal with an incredibly talented Hofstra team. We were tough in the right moments and dealt with their pressure.

“It is always a tight game with Hofstra and [Coach Simon Riddiough] does a fantastic job in having his team ready and prepared,” Cairney added. “The difference tonight was Maddie McCormick. She took the team on her shoulders and she showed why she is one of the best center forwards in our league. Now, we have to recover and get prepared for reigning CAA champion Northeastern on Sunday.”

McCormick, who posted her second two-goal game of the season, gave UNCW the victory just 90 seconds into the overtime period when she scored on a shot to the low right corner of the goal off assists from senior forward Katrina Guillou (Bishop Ireton H.S./Fort Washington, Md.) and senior midfielder Stephanie Bronson (Leesville H.S./Raleigh, N.C.).

In a battle of two ranked teams in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region, the Seahawks struck first in the 83rd minute when McCormick spun past a Hofstra defender and scored her sixth goal of the year on a shot to the lower left corner.

But, the Pride answered just under four minutes later to even the score. After having an attempt stopped in the 86th minute by UNCW senior defender Morgan Leyble (Jacksonville H.S./Jacksonville, N.C.), sophomore Kristin Desmond (Northport H.S./East Northport, N.Y.) tied the game with 3:31 left in regulation by scoring her third goal of the season.

Junior goalkeeper Carolyn Huddy (Lake Norman Charter School/Huntersville, N.C.) made two saves for the Seahawks in the victory as UNCW and Hofstra each recorded 12 shots.

#SeahawkStats: UNCW is 8-0-1 in its last nine games … The Seahawks’ nine-game unbeaten streak is the second-longest in school history, trailing a 10-game stretch to open the 2004 season … UNCW earned its first win over Hofstra since the 2009 season … In addition, the Seahawks earned their first win at Hofstra since Oct. 8, 2006 … Hofstra still leads the all-time series by a 12-4-2 margin … The teams played an overtime game for the second straight year and for the third time in the last five years … UNCW improved to 2-0-1 in overtime games this season after playing its second straight overtime game … The Seahawks also scored two or more goals for the eighth consecutive game, extending their school record … McCormick has now scored 24 goals in her career, tying Guillou for fifth in school history … McCormick and Guillou are also tied for fifth on the Seahawks’ all-time list with 60 career points … McCormick tallied her ninth career game-winning goal, elevating her into fourth place in UNCW history … UNCW handed Hofstra its first home loss of the season … It was just the fifth loss at home for Hofstra since the start of the 2012 season.

Up Next for the Seahawks: UNCW continues its four-game road trip on Sunday, Oct. 4 when the Seahawks visit defending CAA champion Northeastern for a 1 p.m. contest against the Huskies.

College Women’s Soccer: UNCW 2, Hofstra 1 (OT)

UNCW                    0          1          1          –           2
Hofstra                   0          1          0          –           1

Goals: UNCW – Maddie McCormick 2 (82:51, 91:30); HOF – Kristin Desmond (86:29). Assists: UNCW – Katrina Guillou, Stephanie Bronson; HOF – Jeannine Molleda. Saves: UNCW – Carolyn Huddy 2 (91:30, 1 goals allowed), TEAM 2; HOF – Friederike Mehring 4 (91:30, 2 goals allowed). Shots: UNCW – 12; HOF – 12. Corner Kicks: UNCW – 5; HOF – 5. Attendance: 168.

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RALEIGH, NC (NCSU) — We had a quick look at Whiteville’s Shaun Kirk at “Media Day” for NC State men’s basketball. In the video you’ll see Kirk and hear from NC State head coach Mark Gottfried.

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WILMINGTON, NC (UNCW) —

In one of the earliest starts in the program’s history, the UNCW men’s basketball team takes the court on Friday, Oct. 2, to officially begin drills for the much-anticipated season in 2015-16.

The Seahawks met local members of the media late Thursday on the eve of their first official practice and conducted more than 30 interviews with the print, electronic and internet media.

UNCW is coming off an 18-14 campaign that featured one of the biggest turnarounds in the NCAA Division I ranks. Guided by energetic first-year skipper Kevin Keatts, UNCW earned a share of the Colonial Athletic Association regular season championship and advanced to the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, the school’s first postseason appearance in eight years.

“I’m as excited about this year as I’ve ever been,” said Keatts, the CAA’s Coach-of-the-Year in 2015. Keatts became only the fourth first-year mentor in the history of the league to win the coaching honor.

“We have a good mixture of players and I’m excited about this bunch. I like the pieces and I know we have the program going in the right direction. The support has been tremendous. I want to get this program back to the point where you have to stand in line to get in.”

Keatts and his staff welcome back two starters – wily guards Craig Ponder (6-1, 185, R-Sr.) and Jordon Talley (6-0, 180, Fr.) – and add several newcomers to the mix. Ponder was the only player to start all 32 games one year ago and ranked 21^st in the league in scoring at 11.6 points per game. Talley, meanwhile, contributed 8.8 ppg and a team-high 98 assists en route to CAA All-Rookie Team accolades.

Keatts said: “It’s going to be a fun year. We play an exciting brand of basketball…that’s the only way I know. This place can be special. It was one time before. We don’t have to be a one year program. I want this program to last forever.”

Veterans Dylan Sherwood (6-9, 215, Gr., Forward), C.J. Gettys (7-0, 275, Jr., Center) and Chuck Ogbodo (6-9, 230, Jr., Center) give the Seahawks additional experience while three transfers will bolster the lineup. Marcus Bryan (6-7, 225, R-Soph., Forward), Chris Flemmings (6-5, 175, R-Junior, Guard) and Denzel Ingram (6-0, 170, R-Jr., Guard) figure to see plenty of time in their first season after sitting out 2013-14.

UNCW has 29 games on the schedule for the coming year, including 14 home games, 13 road matchups and two neutral contests. The Seahawks make their first public appearance on Sunday, Nov. 8, with an exhibition tune-up against NCAA Division II member Barton at Trask Coliseum.

UNCW then plays the first of three games at Trask Coliseum to open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 13, when NAIA member Milligan visits the Port City for the first time.

Season tickets are available by calling the UNCW Athletics Ticket Office at 800-808-UNCW or by clicking on the Tickets button via UNCWSports.com.