University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
Tar Heels Drop Tough Four-Game Decision at FSU
October 15, 2004 | Volleyball
Oct. 15, 2004
The University of North Carolina volleyball dropped its second Atlantic Coast Conference match of the season Friday night, losing in four games to Florida State, 30-27, 30-25, 27-30, 30-28. Senior Molly Pyles led the Tar Heels (11-9, 6-2 ACC) on both sides of the net, finishing with 25 kills and 17 digs. Junior Dani Nyenhuis added 20 kills and 15 digs. Kristen Rust was the top hitter for the Seminoles (11-7, 3-4 ACC), registering a career-high 29 kills.
Carolina found itself playing from behind for most of game one, and was never able to amount one final rally to retake the lead. With the game tied at 12-all, FSU went on a 5-1 run to take a 17-13 lead. The Tar Heels would climb to within one at 21-20, only to fall back down six at 27-21. One final push got UNC to within two, but the Seminoles were able to hold on, and took game one, 30-27.
It was Florida State that faced an early deficit in game two, as the Tar Heels jumped out to a 6-2 lead behind the offense of Pyles and Katie Wright. The Noles cut the lead to one at 8-7, but Carolina would extend the lead to five at 19-14, only to eventually relinquish it. FSU won five straight points coming out of a timeout to tie the match, and took the lead at 23-22. The hosts would win six of the next seven to get to game point, and put it away, 30-25. Despite holding Florida State to a .152 hitting percentage, Carolina was unable to capitalize, as the Tar Heels hit .080 to fall behind two games to none.
The Seminoles looked like they would make it a sweep in game three, but the Tar Heels put together a gritty performance to extend the match. Down 13-11 and having just lost sophomore Meg Eckert to an injury, the Tar Heels began a rally that would eventually tie the game. Led by the solid hitting of Pyles, Carolina finally evened the score at 18-all. After falling behind again briefly, UNC took the lead for good at 21-20, and won game three, 30-27.
Game four featured the most emotional action of the night, as both teams played their best volleyball in the frame. After leading throughout, it looked as though Carolina would force a tiebreaking fifth game. The Tar Heels led by as many as five at 26-21, before the Seminoles made a furious comeback to tie the score. The two sides traded points until a kill by FSU's Nikki Anthony sealed the win, and Florida State took the game, 30-28, and the match, 3-1.
Carolina will have a day off to recover before taking on the University of Miami Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
