University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Carolina Sweeps Georgia Tech, 3-0
October 14, 2005 | Volleyball
Oct. 14, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --- The University of North Carolina volleyball team out-hit visiting Georgia Tech .240 to .014 en route to a three game sweep, 30-23, 30-28, 30-10, Friday night at the Dean E. Smith Center. The Tar Heels (12-6, 7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) hit .378 in the clinching third game, holding the Yellow Jackets (9-7, 5-2 ACC) to a hitting percentage of -.163.
The Tar Heels took the early advantage in game one, running out to a 10-4 lead. The Yellow Jackets gradually chipped away at the deficit, putting within one at 19-18. But that would be as close as Georgia Tech would get, and Carolina took the opening frame, 30-23.
Game two was tight throughout, with Georgia Tech leading for much of the frame. The visitors built a lead of as many as five at 19-14 before UNC began to push ahead. The Tar Heels used a 6-1 run to tie the score at 20-all before finally moving ahead on a Camilla Ihenetu block at 24-23. Carolina won two more points and seemed to take control at 26-23. But the Yellow Jackets bounced back, evening the score at 28-all. Freshman outside hitter Lauren Prussing then took over, putting together a handful of big swings to collect the final two kills and give Carolina a 30-28 win.
UNC took advantage of a strange play at the outset of game three. On the first point, what appeared to be a Georgia Tech kill hit one of the basketball goals, forcing a replay. The Tar Heels responded by winning the point on a block by Amy Beaver and McKenzie Byrd and never looked back. Senior Taylor Rayfield strung together a number of tough serves to spark a 7-0 run that broke open the final stanza. Carolina never trailed, crusing to a 30-10 win, the biggest game win for the program since a 30-8 win over Villanova in 2001.
The Tar Heels got a solid all-around effort, led by 13 kills and a .500 hitting percentage by Beaver and Prussing's 11 kills. Rayfield had a match-high 18 digs, while Ihenetu had a career-high eight blocks. As a team, the Tar Heels out-blocked the Yellow Jackets, 12-3.
Carolina returns to action Saturday with a 6 p.m. match against Clemson in Carmichael Auditorium.
