.png&width=36&height=36&type=webp)
University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
Carolina Claims ACC Title With Sweep Of Maryland
November 26, 2005 | Volleyball
Nov. 26, 2005
CHAPEL HILL --- Senior outside hitters Camilla Ihenetu and Dani Nyenhuis combined for 27 kills and just 10 errors as the University of North Carolina volleyball team claimed the Atlantic Coast Conference title with a three-game sweep of Maryland, 30-26, 30-19, 30-18, Saturday afternoon at Carmichael Auditorium. Both the Tar Heels (23-9) and the Terrapins (27-4) finished the season with a league record of 18-4, but UNC wins the tiebreaker on total head-to-head games won (4-3).
Game one was easily the tightest of the match and saw extended runs where the teams traded sideouts. Carolina finally broke through with a short 5-1 run midway through the frame to take a 20-17 lead and force a Maryland timeout. The Terps then tied the score later with a 3-0 run to make it 25-all. But the Tar Heels got kills from Nyenhuis on four of the last six points to take a 30-26 win.
UNC used a 9-2 run early in game two to build a working advantage of six at 10-4. The lead would swell to as many as 10 at 20-10 and eventually the final margin of 11, 30-19. The Tar Heels were able to neutralize the stellar Maryland middles in the frame, holding Stephanie Smith and Rachel Wagener to just six kills and one block.
Once again in game three, the Tar Heels ran out to a big lead early. Maryland called its first timeout at 7-2, and the margin grew to eight 12-4. The two squads basically traded sideouts for most of the next 20 points, and the Terps called their final timeout at 25-15. The lead would prove insurmountable, however, and a kill by freshman outside hitter Lauren Prussing sent the Tar Heels running onto the court to celebrate their first regular season ACC title since 2002.
Senior libero Taylor Rayfield pushed her single-season school record for digs to 681 with a match-high 30 digs. Senior setter McKenzie Byrd finished with a double-double, registering 49 assists and 15 digs. Saturday was also senior day for the Tar Heels, and Rayfield, Byrd, Nyenhuis and Ihenetu, along with head manager J. Champman, were honored prior to the match.
The Tar Heels now await their placement in the NCAA field of 64 teams that will be announced Sunday afternoon at 2:30 on ESPNNews.
