University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Loyola Marymount
Tar Heels Triumph Over No. 20 Loyola Marymount in Five Game Thriller
September 17, 2004 | Volleyball
Sept. 17, 2004
The University of North Carolina volleyball team put together its most complete effort of the season Friday night, defeating 20th-ranked Loyola Marymount, 30-25, 27-30, 30-27, 24-30, 15-8. The Tar Heels improve to 5-4 on the season, while the Lions drop to 7-2.
Game one was back and forth early, with the score tied eight times, the last coming at 16-all. Carolina proceeded to win six of the next seven points, highlighted by big kills from Amy Beaver and Camilla Ihenetu. The Tar Heels would maintain a four-point cushion the rest of the way, and a Lion error ended the game, 30-25.
UNC was firing on all cylinders for most of game two, and led by as many as six. After a Katie Wright kill made it 24-18, it looked as though Carolina would cruise to a 2-0 lead. But LMU did not go quietly, as the Lions won 10 of 11 points and eventually finished off the game, 30-27.
The most exciting point of the night would come midway through the third game. After a Loyola Marymount swing deflected off of a Tar Heel and looked to be sailing long for a sure LMU point, Molly Pyles went two rows deep into the baseline bleachers to power the ball back over the net. She then rushed back onto the court to dig the next Lion attack, extending the point further. Although UNC eventually lost the point, the crowd of 1,591 gave Pyles a standing ovation and she promptly delivered a kill on the next point. The Tar Heels rode that momentum the rest of the game, and took a two games to one lead, winning 30-26.
LMU shot out front early with four quick points, and never relinquished the lead in the fourth game. Carolina edged as close as two points on a few occasions, but could never break through, and lost 30-24.
Carolina jumped out to a crucial early lead in the fifth and deciding game. A kill and an ace from Dani Nyenhuis made it 2-0, and back-to-back kills by Ihenetu and Pyles increased the lead to 4-1. After an LMU timeout, senior middle hitter Katie Wright led another Tar Heel flurry, picking up a block and two kills to extend the lead to five. The Lions would never get any closer than four, and UNC took the game, 15-8, and the match, three games to two.
McKenzie Byrd played her best match of the year at setter, establishing a new career high with 74 assists. Pyles also notched a career high, finishing the match with 28 kills. Libero Caroline deRoeck had a match-high 21 digs for the Tar Heels, who also had their best defensive match of the season, finishing with 80 digs and 16.5 total blocks.
Action in the GlaxoSmithKline UNC Volleyball Classic resumes Saturday morning at 10 a.m. as Minnesota takes on Loyola Marymount. The Golden Gophers, ranked No. 1 in the nation, received a scare from the Rice Owls in the night's opening match, but squeaked by in five games.
