As NC State coach Elliott Avent walked across the street from Doak Field to the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center, where the postgame press conference was set up following his team’s Raleigh Regional opening win over Bryant, he asked starting right-hander Sam Highfill how he felt at the end of his outing. Highfill, the Pack’s graduate ace, battled a lower back injury during the 2022 season and it has reemerged at times ever since. Avent wanted to check in on his workhorse, who helped guide the red and white to the 9-2 win, not knowing what to expect. The answer might have been surprising to those th…