RALEIGH, N.C. — NC State sophomore middle blocker Talia Francom was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after a career weekend that powered the Wolfpack through Syracuse and Boston College at Reynolds Coliseum.
The Cary native led NC State with 15 total blocks and averaged 1.88 blocks per set across the two matches. She also piled up 26 kills on the weekend, hit .469 with a 10-attempt minimum, and averaged 3.25 kills per set while finishing with a team-best 34 points.
Against Syracuse on Friday, Francom posted a career-high 14 kills with a .500 hitting percentage and 7.0 total blocks in a four-set win over Syracuse at home. She followed with another double-digit kill night Sunday as the Pack beat Boston College, notching back-to-back 10-plus kill matches for the first time in her career.
Setter Eva Long added a seventh double-double of the season with 44 assists and 10 digs in the Boston College match. Jordan Smith led the Pack from the service line with two aces, marking the third time this season she has led the Pack in that category.
The Sunday win was NC States third ACC win of the season and the programs 225th conference victory. Head coach Megan Wargo-Kearneys team is now 2-0 against the Eagles and has won seven matches this season in four or more sets, including the 843rd win in program history.
Francoms weekly honor puts a statewide spotlight on a home-grown Pack middle who controlled the net on both ends while NC State climbed deeper into the ACC standings after a strong home weekend.
For a Wolfpack side chasing consistency in conference play, the award also underlines how much Francoms block-and-swing combination changed the middle of the floor against Syracuse and Boston College.
