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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Carolina Rallies From 2-0 Hole, Beats Virginia
October 28, 2005 | Volleyball
Oct. 28, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --- Senior outside hitter Dani Nyenhuis had 25 kills and 20 digs - including her 1,000th career dig - as the University of North Carolina volleyball rallied from an 0-2 deficit to beat Virginia, 28-30, 24-30, 30-28, 30-28, 15-10, Friday night at Memorial Gym. The win marks the first time since 2000 that the Tar Heels (15-7, 10-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) have lost the first two games of a match before coming back to win. The Cavaliers fall to 13-8, 8-4 in league play.
In a game dominated by the defense on both sides of the net, the Cavaliers used a strong serve to take the game one advantage. Led by outside hitter Sarah Kirkwood, who finished with 25 kills, Virginia built a six-point lead at 23-17 and looked to put the game away. But Carolina made a furious comeback, winning eight of 10 points over a stretch to pull within one at 25-24. The Tar Heels led briefly at 28-27, but a Kirkwood kill gave the Wahoos game point and the game ended at 30-28, fittingly on a Cavalier service ace by Lindsay Osco.
The Tar Heels got behind early in game two but once again showed an ability to score points in bunches. After trailing 14-9, Carolina scored seven of eight points to take a 16-15 lead. But despite out-blocking UVa 5-0 in the frame, UNC could not contain the hosts. After having just two service aces in the first meeting between the two teams, Virginia had five in the second game alone, including the game winner at 30-24.
Carolina was finally able to pass the Virginia serve consistently in game three, allowing the offense to rise to the occasion. The Tar Heels hit .400 for the frame and needed just 35 swings to record 18 kills en route to a 30-28 win. UNC used a 6-1 run highlighted by the play of senior outside hitter Camilla Ihenetu to take a 26-23 lead. Ihenetu, who had struggled mightily for most of the match up until then, tallied three straight kills to spark the Tar Heels. After UVa fought off the first two game points to get to 29-28, UNC secured the game on a Nyenhuis kill.
Game four saw the most competitive play of the match, as neither team was able to pull away. The game featured an amazing 20 ties, the last of which came at 28-all. An Ihenetu kill gave the Tar Heels game point at 29-28, and a Cavalier net violation sent the match to a deciding fifth game, 30-28. Nyenhuis was outstanding in the frame, collecting nine kills on 16 swings with just two errors as well as nine digs.
UNC got the all-important early lead in game five, sprinting out to an 8-3 lead. UVa would close to within three at 10-7, but would get no closer. The Wahoos fought off the first match point at 14-10, but a kill by Ihenetu completed the comeback win. Ihenetu was at her best in the late stages, tallying four kills in the fifth game and finishing with 17 for the match.
The Tar Heels will now make the trip into the mountains of Virginia to Blacksburg, where Carolina will face Virginia Tech Saturday night at 6.
