The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1215393
MARCH 2020 ■ 19 TRACKING THE PACK QUOTING THE PACK 3 National ranking achieved by the Wolfpack women's tennis team in the Feb. 25 Oracle/ ITA Division I rankings, an all-time best for the program. NC State opened 15-2 with a pair of wins over teams ranked in the top 10 at the time of competition (No. 3 Georgia and No. 9 South Caro- lina). A pair of doubles teams were ranked nation- ally, led by the No. 2 duo of senior Anna Rogers and sophomore Alana Smith, while four were listed in the top 100 for singles players, paced by No. 16 Smith. 34 Members of NCSU's women's basketball 1,000-point club, which senior guard AISLINN "ACE" KONIG reached against Virginia Jan. 5. Through Feb. 25, Konig had 1,136 career points while scoring at a clip of 9.9 points per game over her first 115 appearances (94 starts) with the Wolfpack. 43 Rivals.com ranking for NC State senior signee Josh Hall of Hickory (N.C.) Moravian Prep, regardless of high school class. The Durham, N.C., native is ranked No. 22 overall in the class of 2020. 1,107 Career wins for NC State baseball coach Elliott Avent, who recorded his historic 1,100th career victory in the season opener against James Madison on Feb. 14. He is one of eight active coaches to reach 1,100-plus wins. "WHEN IT COMES TO LEADERSHIP AND WHEN IT COMES TO FOLLOW- ING SOMEBODY, AND YOU'VE GOT A BUNCH OF ALPHA MALES IN THE ROOM AND EVERYBODY IS KIND OF THE TOP DOG, YOU NATURALLY FOLLOW THE GUY WHO CARES THE MOST. AND PHILIP UNQUESTIONABLY CARES THE MOST." — Ex-Chargers center Nick Hardwick on his former teammate and quarterback PHILIP RIVERS, an NC State alum who is departing the Los Angeles Chargers after 16 seasons (TheAthletic.com) "There is a lot of parity. We still have a ways to get it turned around to the point we are in that Final Four, national championship conversation on a consis- tent basis. You hope it does open some doors [in recruiting] for you, definitely." — NC State women's basketball coach Wes Moore on the rise of his program (TheWolfpacker.com) "I think that for us, it's not just being able to fundraise for cancer research, but it really is a celebration of the various coaches we've had come through here that have made huge impacts on the history here at NC State and built this legacy who are impacted. So you have Kay Yow, but you also have Jimmy V, and now, it's Valvano Arena and Kay Yow Court, and you're surrounded by these people who unfortunately were taken too soon, but their love of basketball was able to create a legacy here that will be here long after we're gone." — NC State women's basketball senior guard Aislinn Konig on the Wolfpack's Play4Kay Game (The Technician) 53 Members of NC State's men's basketball 1,000-point club, which senior point guard MARKELL JOHNSON joined Jan. 25 at Georgia Tech. Johnson had 1,123 ca- reer points while scoring at a rate of 9.7 points per game over his first 116 contests (83 starts) with the Wolfpack through Feb. 25. PHOTOS BY KEN MARTIN PHOTO BY MIKE NOWAK / COURTESY LOS ANGELES CHARGERS