Raleigh, N.C. -  The Rutgers volleyball team picked up its second win of the season Friday night by defeating host North Carolina State, 3-2, on the opening day of the Raleigh Crabtree Valley Marriott Classic. Rutgers dropped its first match against George Mason by a 3-1 decision.

 

The Scarlet Knights (2-6) will compete in a doubleheader again on Saturday as they will tangle with Dartmouth at 10 a.m., followed by Xavier at 5 p.m.

 

Both of Rutgers wins this season have come in five sets as it defeated North Carolina State 25-20, 21-25, 25-20, 15-25, 16-14. With the loss, the Pack’s record drops to 5-4.

 

George Mason (6-3) downed Rutgers by scores of 23-25, 27-25, 25-12, 25-23. Highlighting the match for Rutgers were juniors Emma Chrystal (Kalamazoo, Mich.) and Caitlin Saxton (Encinitas, Calif.) and freshman Stephanie Zielinski (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) Both Chrystal and Saxton swatted 10 kills while Saxton led the team in digs with 16 and Chrystal chipped in with 12 digs. Zielinski continues to play beyond her years as she posted a team-high 36 assists, complimented by her 12 digs.