GoHeels Exclusive: Leath leads UNC volleyball to first 2017 wins, other Olympic sports notes

For the first time since its inaugural 1971 campaign, the North Carolina volleyball team opened the season with an 0-4 record.

But in the Tar Heels' first home matches of the season, reigning ACC Player of the Year Taylor Leath helped the team overcome its difficult start with a pair of impressive performances.

Leath's dominance began Friday. In a 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-21) win over LIU Brooklyn, she registered a team-season-high 16 kills. Eight came in the first set, during which UNC trailed by as many as four points.

But as impressive an effort it was, Leath exceeded it Sunday against LSU.

The Tigers entered the match with an 8-0 record. However, they couldn't slow down Leath, who posted a career-high 27 kills, 12 digs and .404 hitting percentage in a 3-1 (23-25, 25-21, 25-20, 27-25) victory.

Leath's 27 kills marked the most by a Tar Heel since 2005. It was also just the fourth time in rally-scoring history that a UNC player tallied more than 25 in a four-set match.

Field hockey rebounds

Following a 3-1 loss against No. 19 Wake Forest on Friday, field hockey coach Karen Shelton hoped her team would build off the disappointing defeat. And in its first match since, UNC appeared to do so Sunday.

After recording just nine shots and five penalty corners Friday, the fourth-ranked Tar Heels posted 26 and 10, respectively, in a 6-1 win at Appalachian State.

The victory came at a good time for UNC, which returns home for three games in a four-day span after playing its first six of the season on the road. Saturday's contest against No. 8 Boston College will be held at Duke's Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium in Durham, N.C., where the Tar Heels (4-2) will play their home games this season with a new stadium under construction.

Men's soccer wins ACC opener

Playing its third straight road match, the men's soccer team was outshot 14-9 by Pittsburgh in Saturday's ACC opener. Still, the No. 10 Tar Heels pulled out a 2-1 win behind a 6-4 edge in shots on goal.

Jelani Pieters, who tallied four shots, registered three on goal. And his team-leading fourth goal of the season handed UNC (4-1, 1-0 ACC) a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.

The Panthers ultimately tied the game about 20 minutes later. However, Cam Lindley helped the Tar Heels secure the win when he collected a misplayed ball by Pitt and scored the game-winner from 30 yards out in the 53rd minute. The shot, one of three by Lindley, was his only one on goal.

Scoreboard Slider

University of North Carolina Athletics

GoHeels Exclusive: Leath leads UNC volleyball to first 2017 wins, other Olympic sports notes

Players Mentioned

Taylor Leath

Related Videos