N.C. State’s 34th season of varsity volleyball will kick off today at noon as the team opens up play in the Virginia Commonwealth Tournament in Richmond, Va. The team, which lost two starters and several reserves during the off-season, will be looking to snap a 28 match losing streak when it takes the court against VCU.

State returns nine letter-winners and five starters, but will be without last season’s kill leader Lauren Zaniboni who amassed over 25 percent of the team’s attack points, though head coach Charita Stubbs said the new additions to the roster will help

“The new players have come in and gelled well and we’ve filled in some missing pieces,” Stubbs said.

Boise State transfer and junior captain Arlee Tamietti will look to help fill the void left by Zaniboni and other departed players to help bring a winning experience to a team that has won just five matches in the past two seasons against 58 losses.

“She has a lot of experience and she has a desire,” Stubbs said of Tamietti. “She’s the type of kid that can step in and help us right away.”

While State has not had a winning season since 1996, the Pack also has been winless in ACC matches since a late October victory over Boston College in Chestnut Hill back in 2005. The 52 game losing streak in conference play has left State in the cellar for the past three seasons, but the Pack won’t let history dictate the team’s future.

“We don’t talk about wins and losses, we just take care of what takes place on our side of the court,” Stubbs said.

The season’s highlights include hosting the Hilton/RTP NC State Classic in Reynolds Coliseum starting Sept. 12 and when archrival UNC visits Raleigh Oct. 14. The Wolfpack looks to collect its first win against the Heels since 1997.

“It’s a match we would love to win,” Stubbs said. “The nice thing about playing Carolina is that it’s such a rivalry that both teams are equal no matter which team is stronger during the year.”

State will host Clemson, last year’s conference champion; at home on Oct. 25, and perennial conference power Duke on Nov. 14.

“The ACC is stronger this year than last year because several teams are returning key players. We know we haven’t done well in the conference, but we’ll take it one match at a time,” Stubbs said.

The Pack’s first home match in Reynolds will be during the N.C. State Classic against Norfolk State. State has not won a home match since beating UT-Chattanooga in the 2006 Wolfpack Classic.