University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Carolina Volleyball Falls in Four to Yellow Jackets
October 23, 2004 | Volleyball
Oct. 23, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina volleyball team dropped a hard-fought four-game decision to Atlantic Coast Conference leader Georgia Tech, 30-22, 30-24, 23-30, 30-26, Saturday night at Carmichael Auditorium. Junior outside hitter Dani Nyenhuis was stellar in the defeat, as she recorded a career-high 29 kills on the evening. Senior libero Caroline deRoeck led the way defensively with 26 digs. The Yellow Jackets were led by Lauren Sauer's 24 kills, and 27 digs from Marisa Aston.
The Tar Heels (12-11, 7-4 ACC) rode the hot hands of Katie Wright and Nyenhuis early, as the two teamed up for five kills to give Carolina a 6-4 lead. The Jackets (16-5, 10-0 ACC) quickly evened the score before making a run that would give them a 17-14 advantage and force a timeout. As Georgia Tech gained momentum, its lead ballooned to as many as nine at 28-19, and the Jackets took game one, 30-22.
It was Nyenhuis again in game two who staked Carolina to an early lead, as she had three of her seven kills in the game in the first eight points. But once again the Tar Heels relinquished the early advantage after Georgia Tech won eight of 11 points to take a 17-12 lead. UNC showed some signs of life late when a Camilla Ihenetu block made it 26-23, but the Tar Heels would get no closer and fell 30-24.
Game three looked like it would follow the same script as the first two, with UNC leading early only to see a big surge from Georgia Tech that put the game out of reach. But the Tar Heels fought off the rush in game three, and built a sizable of lead of their own to work with. After the score was tied at 11-all, Carolina went on a 10-4 run to put the game out of reach and forced a fourth game with a 30-23 win.
The two squads went at it tooth and nail in the fourth and ultimately final game, as the defensive units dominated for most of the frame. The Jackets once again came up with a strong push after an early deficit, but the Tar Heels responded and kept things close. After a Pyles kill tied it at 20-all, Carolina scored another two quickly and led 22-20. But it was Georgia Tech that provided the final run and, despite four late kills from Nyenhuis, the Ramblin' Wreck took the game, 30-26, and the match, 3-1.
The Tar Heels step out of the conference for the final time before the ACC Tournament this week, as they host the Davidson Wildcats on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
