North Carolina
9-7, 6-2ACC
Virginia
4-15, 0-8ACC
Tar Heels Roll To Sweep of Cavaliers
October 14, 2017 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina completed its first ACC sweep of the season on Saturday evening, taking down the University of Virginia, 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-16). The Tar Heels' gelled on the serve and pass game and cut down on unforced errors, leading to the most efficient offensive match of the season. The win marks UNC's fourth straight, as the Tar Heels improve to 9-7 (6-2 ACC), while Virginia remains winless in conference play at 4-15 (0-8 ACC).
"I was very proud of the team today," said head coach Joe Sagula. "I thought we played well and didn't drop our level. Virginia made a couple runs in the second set, but I was really proud of how we played. We had some good swings. I think our back row did a good job in terms of making some good digs and we want those transition kills, so I thought we did a good job there. 10 blocks to go along with 40 kills, I'll take that any day, and I thought we actually served really well."
Taylor Leath led Carolina's efficient offense with 10 kills on just 21 swings, hitting .381. Beth Nordhorn followed with eight kills at a .438 clip, while Taylor Fricano tallied seven kills without an error to hit .636 from the right side. As a team, UNC hit a season-high .402, the best attack percentage since hitting .489 against Clemson last November.
Kendra Koetter and Holly Carlton teamed up to direct the Carolina offense, as Carlton tallied 20 assists and Koetter put up 13. Sophomore Greer Moseman led the match with 11 digs. Libero Casey Jacobs recorded eight, and both setters chipped in an additional seven.
Carolina's servers were dominant, totaling seven aces in the match, including three from Carlton and two by Leath.
"Holly Carlton was really on with her serve tonight," said Sagula. "I was really proud of her and the way she played. The whole team has had to deal with, over the last three or four days, sicknesses on top of injuries so I could not be happier with how the team is just staying together and coming out with a victory well. And to get a 3-0 win is refreshing for the team."
While Carolina's offense posted its highest hitting percentage of the season, the Tar Heel defense held Virginia to the lowest clip for a UNC opponent this season, using 10.0 blocks to limit the Cavaliers to just .051 hitting. Fricano and Nordhorn teamed up for the majority of the stuffs, with eight by Fricano and six by Nordhorn.
"I think this win does a lot for their confidence," said Sagula. "I think because of the fact we didn't go to four sets makes us realize that this is how good we can be. They felt it. We talked about how to play, not worrying about the outcome, and I think they looked like they were actually working on that in the game."
An ace by Nordhorn gave the Tar Heels an early 7-4 lead in the first set. A Nordhorn kill kicked off a 5-0 run to make it 17-9 Carolina, then Leath served up another five-point run with two aces and a kill to make it 22-10. A kill by Taylor Borup made it set point, and a block by Katharine Esterley and Taylor Fricano closed out the first set, 25-12. UNC hit an impressive .565 in the frame with 13 kills and no errors, while also serving up three aces without making a service error.
The second set was much closer, featuring eight tie scores and four lead changes. After a UVA block gave the Cavaliers a 10-9 lead, UNC used a five-point run to push ahead 14-10. A Fricano-Esterley block made it 18-13 and a Carlton kill made it 22-17. Virginia wiped off two attempts at set point, but Nordhorn had the final swing as UNC took the second set, 25-19.
Carolina controlled the third set early, racing to a 16-9 lead on a kill by Leath. However, a five-point run from Virginia cut the deficit to two, 16-14, forcing a UNC timeout. The Tar Heels regrouped after the break, winning six in a row, including three straight blocks by Fricano and Nordhorn, to make it 22-14. Another block by the senior duo set up match point, and a slam by Nordhorn closed out the match as Carolina completed its first ACC sweep of the year, 25-16.
North Carolina has a tough road ahead, taking on the two remaining undefeated ACC teams in the upcoming week. The Tar Heels close out their homestand on Wednesday, Oct. 18, against NC State (12-6, 7-0 ACC) before traveling to Pittsburgh (14-4, 7-0) on Friday, Oct. 20. Carolina will host a Hurricane Relief Drive at Wednesday's match, as fans are encouraged to bring clothing, first-aid kits or useful battery-powered devices to the match to be sent to Puerto Rico in an effort to support those affected by the devastating hurricanes. Wednesday's match begins at 6:30 p.m.
