North Carolina State University - Agromeck Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

was the same sweet song but once again it ended on a sour note. Another almost-but- not-quite season. State ' s volleyball team won its third straight state championship, but once again it failed to do well enough in the regional tournament to reach the elusive nationals. This year the women spikers ' season came to a quick close when Memphis State defeated the Pack preventing for the first time move- ment out of pool play and advancement to the finals of the AIAW Region II tournament. State did manage to defeat North Carolina for the fourth time this season to push its final season record to 39-11. The volleyball team had won its third straight NCAIAW Volleyball title a week earlier when it came back from an earlier loss to Carolina in the double elimination tournament and won two matches over the Heels. This marked the third straight year the Wolfpack had gone into this tournament seeded second and wound up beating the top-seeded Heels for the State title. Once again, the spikers were led by Susan Schafer, the premiere setter in the state. Schafer, hitter Joan Russo and middle blocker Stacey Schaeffer were all named to the All- NCAIAW volleyball team. Even though coach Pat Hielsher ' s squad failed to achieve its goal of a trip to the nationals, it was a successful season. The spikers, who have accumulated an impressive 106-34 record in Hielscher ' s three seasons as head coach, overcame a rash of early-season injuries en route to the state championship. Sports/145