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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tar Heels Fall to Gamecocks in Four
September 10, 2005 | Volleyball
Sept. 10, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --- The University of North Carolina volleyball team dropped its final match of the GlaxoSmithKline UNC Volleyball Classic Saturday night, falling to South Carolina in four games, 24-30, 30-27, 33-31, 30-27. Senior outside hitter Camilla Ihenetu led the Tar Heels offensively with 22 kills and a .319 hitting percentage. Senior libero Taylor Rayfield collected 16 digs and was named to the all-tournament team.
Carolina (3-4) played with the lead for most of game one. The Tar Heels turned away several Gamecock rallies with strong blocking. South Carolina (6-1) pulled within one on several occasions but never tied the score. A diving dig by senior Dani Nyenhuis extended what would eventually be the game-winning point, and a hitting error by South Carolina ended it, 30-24. UNC tallied five blocks in the frame, led by four block assists by junior middle Amy Beaver.
Game two was close throughout, with South Carolina leading for most of the stanza. Trailing by three at 21-18, the Tar Heels looked to regain the momentum with an exciting point that was extended by several athletic plays and punctuated by an Ihenetu kill. But UNC was unable to capitalize, and a hitting error gave the Gamecocks game point at 29-26. Two points later, a South Carolina block evened the match, as the visitors won game two, 30-27. Carolina was outhit .214 to .098 in the game and outblocked 7-1.
After a back-and-forth start to game three, the Gamecocks made the first big move of the game, using a 7-0 run to turn a 13-10 deficit into a 17-13 lead. Carolina used a run of its own to tie the score a 18-all, and the two squads traded points until an Iris Santos ace forced a timeout at 25-23. The Tar Heels responded, and Bekah Brinkley's kill tied the score at 26-all. An ace by freshman defensive specialist Brianna Eskola gave UNC its first lead since 13-12, prompting South Carolina to use a timeout. Ihenetu got the Tar Heels to game point at 29-28 with a big kill down the middle, but the Gamecocks got a quick side out. South Carolina had its own chance for the game at 30-29, but served the ball into the net. UNC almost had the game at 31-30, but a Santos kill just caught the end line. Two points later the Gamecocks took the game on a back row blocking call, 33-31. Game three was easily the closest of the night and featured 16 ties and 16 lead changes.
South Carolina ran out to a 16-12 lead in game four that forced a UNC timeout. Three points later it was 18-13, and head coach Joe Sagula used his final timeout. The Tar Heels weren't ready to go just yet and ran off a 3-0 run to force a Gamecock timeout. After threatening on several occasions, Carolina finally tied the score at 24-all on an Ihenetu kill. But South Carolina was not to be denied, pulling away for a 30-27 match-clinching win.
The Gamecocks were led by all-tournament selections Shonda Cole and Lynae Vanden Hull, who tallied 20 and 11 kills, respectively.
By virtue of finishing a perfect 3-0 for the weekend, Purdue was named tournament champions. Joining Rayfield, Cole and Vanden Hull on the all-tournament team were Coastal Carolina's Katherine Jensen-Spencer and Annie Mastandrea, Danita Merlau and Renata Dargan, all of Purdue. Dargan was named tournament MVP.
Carolina will be on the road next weekend, as the Tar Heels travel to Kingston, R.I., for the URI Invitational. UNC will face Rhode Island and Connecticut on Friday and nationally-ranked Arizona on Saturday.
