University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
High Point
Tar Heel Volleyball Opens Season With Win
September 1, 2004 | Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2004
The University of North Carolina volleyball team opened its 2004 campaign with a solid 30-16, 30-14, 30-18, win over visiting High Point University Wednesday night at Carmichael Auditorium. The Tar Heels were led by seniors Katie Wright and Molly Pyles and freshman Emily Guerry. Both Wright and Guerry finished the match with hitting percentages better than .400 and Guerry registered a career-high seven kills. The Panthers took the first point of the match, but would not lead again in game one. Wright was dominant at the net throughout the opening game, pounding a number of balls to the floor off errant High Point passes. HPU closed to within six points at 17-11, but Wright delivered a timely kill to set off a run of four straight UNC points, and the Tar Heels took the game, 30-16. The second game proved to be somewhat of a coming-out party for Guerry, as she registered four kills and a block over the span of ten points late in the game. The Tar Heels won 10 of 11 points during the run, as Guerry's play drove the crowd of 1,155 into a frenzy. High Point played its best volleyball after the break, as the teams traded points for the better part of the game. Jamie Kaufman led the Panthers with nine kills and a .429 hitting percentage in the match. With the game still in limbo at 11-10, UNC rattled off 11 of the next 14 points to build a 22-13 lead. The teams were basically even throughout the rest of the match, but HPU ran out of chances and a Camilla Ihenetu kill ended the match. Carolina had a strong defensive effort, holding the Panthers to a hitting percentage of .021, and four Tar Heels recorded at least eight digs. Taylor Rayfield (11) and Caroline deRoeck (10) both finished in double figures. The Tar Heels now embark on a lengthy road trip, starting with the Hampton Inn/Kaepa Temple Classic this weekend in Philadelphia. UNC will face Western Michigan on Friday, followed by Ohio State and Temple on Saturday. First serve in the WMU match is scheduled for 4 p.m.
