The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1481002
TRACKING THE PACK NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022 ■ 15 PACK PERFORMERS Ava Brizard, Volleyball The freshman outside hitter from Novi, Mich., is quickly making an impact for NC State volleyball. That is not surprising, considering Brizard was a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year selection in her home state coming out of Marian High. She has helped NC State start 9-6 overall, including a 3-1 mark in the ACC play, by totaling a team-high 171 kills and 191.5 points. She is also third on the squad with 11 service aces. Brizard was selected as the ACC Freshman of the Week on Sept. 5. Sam Bush, Women's Cross Country Fresh off an All-America finish to help her team win a national title last season, the senior from Cincinnati has started strongly this year for the Wolfpack. Bush was named the ACC Women's Co- Performer of the Week on Sept. 20 after winning the Adidas XC Challenge in Cary, N.C., for her first career race victory. She then finished fifth at the competitive Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational on Sept. 30 in South Bend, Ind. Bush was a first-team All-American in the indoor 3,000-meter race and a second-team honoree in the ourdoor 5,000. Brett Gardner, Men's Cross Country The junior from Frankfort, Ill., has been a consis- tent performer in the first two races of the season for the men's cross country squad. Gardner fin- ished second individually in the Adidas XC Chal- lenge on Sept. 16 to help the men's squad earn first place overall in the team standings. Gardner was the second fastest among NC State runners at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, coming in 21st place overall to help the Pack finish ninth in the team standings. Alana Smith, Women's Tennis One of NC State's top tennis players for three years, Smith missed last season after suffering an injury in the fall. A three-time doubles All- American and two-time second-team All-ACC se- lection from Fort Washington, Md., she returned to the court for the Fall Ranked Spotlight in Cary on Sept. 22-25 and proved she was back and healthy. Smith, ranked No. 55 nationally, went 4-1, with victories over No. 22 Carmen Corley from Oklahoma, No. 51 Sydni Ratliff from Oklahoma State, No. 91 Carolyn Ansari from Auburn and No. 116 Malkia Ngounoue of Kansas. Home is where the howl is. Join today at go.ncsu.edu/AAMembership #HowlBack