University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Tar Heels Fall To Hokies in Five
November 6, 2004 | Volleyball
Nov. 6, 2004
The University of North Carolina volleyball team dropped a five-game decision to host Virginia Tech Saturday night in Blacksburg, 28-30, 30-27, 22-30, 30-27, 15-13. Senior Katie Wright hit .361 and finished with 17 kills, while senior Molly Pyles tallied 15 kills and 27 digs to lead the Tar Heels.
Games one and two were back-and-forth affairs, as neither team led by more than five in either frame. Virginia Tech (13-13, 7-7 ACC) had the early advantage in game one before a Pyles ace capped a 5-0 to even the score at 12-all. After digging out of the early hole, Carolina (16-12, 9-5 ACC) would not trail again and took the game 30-28 on an attack error by Katie Esbrook. It was a rare error for Esbrook, who finished the match with 23 kills and a .429 hitting percentage. The second game was even closer, as the Hokies' never led by more than three, with that lead coming at the end of a 30-27 win to even the match.
UNC appeared to seize the momentum in game three, when the Tar Heels put the game away with a 9-0 run to take a two games to one lead. Junior Dani Nyenhuis put away the final two points of the stanza to secure the 30-22 win.
Virginia Tech took a 25-22 lead into the late stages of the game four before a 3-0 run highlighted by a block from Wright and junior McKenzie Byrd tied the score. But two kills by Colette Ramirez gave the game to the Hokies, 30-27, and forced a fifth game.
Carolina got within four points of taking the match before Virginia Tech put together a final run to overtake the Tar Heels. A kill by Annie Spicer capped a 5-0 run that turned an 11-6 UNC lead into a tie, and the hosts scored nine of the final 11 points of the match to win, 15-13.
The Tar Heels now return home for a critical final ACC weekend, as they host Miami and Florida State to conclude the conference schedule. With a pair of wins, Carolina would finish no worse than tied for second in the league.
