University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Clemson
No. 11 Tar Heels Top Clemson 3-2
October 1, 2002 | Volleyball
Oct. 1, 2002
CLEMSON, S.C.-No. 11 North Carolina continued a seven game winning streak against Clemson with a 3-2 victory in Jervey Gym. The Tar Heels are now 14-1 on the season and 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
In the match, senior setter Eve Rackham recored her 1,000th career dig and senior outside hitter Laura Greene moved up to third all-time on the career digs list with 1,248.
Clemson (11-7, 2-1) came out strong in the first game, building a 5-1 lead before the Tar Heels battled back to evenually tie the score at 8-8 on a kill by Rackham. The match was back and forth from there, with the teams tied at every point from 8-8 to 24-24. Clemson took a three-point lead at 27-24, but the Tar Heels came back to tie the game at 28-28 on a kill by senior outside hitter Laura Greene and then at 30-30 on a kill by sophomore middle hitter Katie Wright. Clemson answered with two-consecutive points for a 32-30 win.
Carolina took control in the second game to knot the match at 1-1, beginning with a kill by Greene for the first point. From there, the Tar Heels slowly built and eight-point lead at 21-13. Clemson answered with an 8-1 run to narrow the Tar Heel lead to 22-21. Junior middle hitter Aletha Green recored a kill for the sideout and a two-point lead, and the Tar Heels continued with six more points on Greene's serve. The Tar Heels clinched the game 30-22 when the Clemson block could not handle an attack by senior outside hitter Malaika Underwood. In the game a milestone was also reached, as Rackham recorded her 1,000th career dig. Also, Greene moved up on the all-time digs chart, passing Liz Berg (1987-1990) for third with 1,238.
In Game 3, Carolina took first lead on a block by Green and Rackham at 1-0 and would never trail. Rackham capped one of the team's longest rallies of the season with a kill and a 16-10 lead. Carolina held on for the win and the 2-1 advantage in the match.
Clemson came back to take the fourth game, forcing the Tar Heels to a fifth game for the first time this season. Clemson won 30-25 on seven kills by Lori Ashton while out-hitting Carolina .298 to .155.
In the deciding game, four kills by freshman Dani Nyenhuis and two each by Greene and Green gave the Tar Heels a 17-15 edge. Carolina took a 11-9 lead on a kill by Strauss, but Clemson came back and tied on a kill by Marija Zoric. UNC again went up two on an Underwood ace and a Nyenhuis kill and Clemson would again tie on a Zoric kill. The game would again be tied at 15-15, but a kill by Green for point 16 and a attack out of bounds by Clemson sealed the victory.
Greene led the Tar Heels with 22 kills, while Underwood, Pyles, Green and Strauss were all also in double figures in kills. Rackham finished the match with 64 assists.
UNC is next in action Saturday at 8 p.m. on the road at No. 23 Georgia Tech.
