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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Rhode Island
Tar Heels Sweep Day One of URI Volleyball Classic
September 16, 2005 | Volleyball
Sept. 16, 2005
KINGSTON, R.I. --- The University of North Carolina volleyball team improved to 5-4 on the season with a pair of wins on day one of the Rhode Island Volleyball Classic. The Tar Heels defeated the host Rams in the morning session, 30-25, 30-24, 30-23, then dropped Connecticut later in the day, 30-28, 32-30, 24-30, 30-23.
In the early match, Carolina used all 14 of its available players in defeating Rhode Island (5-5). Game one was back-and-forth, as both teams enjoyed leads of as many as six. UNC took the upper hand late, however, and a block by freshman outside hitter Lauren Prussing and junior middle Amy Beaver gave the Tar Heels a 30-25 win.
Carolina broke open a close game two with a 10-1 run that turned a 16-all tie into a 26-17 lead. A kill by senior outside hitter Dani Nyenhuis was the game-winner, giving UNC a 30-24 victory. After weathering a big early run by Rhode Island in game three, the Tar Heels rolled to a 30-23 win, taking the match in a sweep. Carolina used a very balanced attack in the win, as no Tar Heel reached double figures in kills. Freshman defensive specialist Kelly Davies saw her first action of the season in the match, making her the sixth freshman to play in 2005.
The afternoon tilt featured a showdown with Connecticut (4-5), who is coached by former Tar Heel Holly Strauss. The matchup proved to be a tight one, as each of the first two games went down to the wire. With game one tied at 26-all, Carolina scored two straight points, punctuated by a Camilla Ihenetu kill. After a UConn timeout, the two teams traded points to give UNC game point at 29-27. A Huskie kill made it 29-28, but Heather Ashley's service error gave the game to Carolina, 30-28.
UConn played with the lead for most of game two before the Tar Heels finally tied the score at 23-all on a kill by sophomore middle Christie Clark. The frame would be tied on six more occasions, the last coming at 30-all. Two Nyenhuis kills put Carolina over the top, 32-30, and the Tar Heels took a 2-0 lead.
After never threatening to close out the match in a 30-24 game three loss, UNC jumped out to a 6-2 lead in game four. The Huskies would rally to lead at 11-9, but could not hold off the Tar Heels. The final game featured sparkling offensive on both sides of the net, as Carolina outhit Connecticut .391 to .381. After regaining the lead at 12-11, UNC would never squander the lead again. A Taylor Rayfield ace gave the Tar Heels a 30-23 win and the match.
The middle hitters were the difference against the Huskies, with both Clark and Beaver hitting over .300 for the match. Clark had a match-high .429 hitting percentage, and finished with a career-best 18 kills. Nyenhuis led the defensive effort with 22 digs, while Rayfield added 19.
Carolina will play for the Rhode Island Volleyball Classic title Saturday, as the Tar Heels face No. 20 Arizona at noon.
