University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
September 24, 2005 | Volleyball
Sept. 24, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --- Senior outside hitter Dani Nyenhuis tallied 12 kills and 18 digs to lead the University of North Carolina volleyball team to a 30-25, 30-23, 30-24, win over Virginia Saturday night at the Dean Smith Center. The Tar Heels improve to 7-5, 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, while the Cavaliers fall to 6-5, 1-1 in the league.
It looked like Carolina would run away with game one, as the Tar Heels jumped out to a quick 17-9 lead. But the Wahoos would chip away and forced a UNC timeout at 18-15. UVa won two more points before giving Carolina a side out with a service error. That proved to be the spark the hosts needed, as the Cavaliers never got within one again, dropping game one, 30-25. Nyenhuis led the way offensively with eight kills in the frame, while four different Tar Heels had five digs.
Game two saw Carolina surge ahead once again, but Virginia was unable to put together a run to threaten the lead. UNC led by as many as eight at 19-11, and UVa never got closer than four at 24-20. The Tar Heels would win six of the last nine points after a timeout to take game two, 30-23.
The final game was the closest of the night, featuring eight ties and four lead changes. The last tie came at 13-all, after which the Tar Heels began to pull away. The lead was four when Virginia called its first timeout, and did not change before the Wahoos called their last one at 24-20. Carolina maintained a three-point cushion the rest of the way, and a Christie Clark kill sealed the game, 30-24, and the match.
Senior setter McKenzie Byrd finished with a match-high 44 assists to lead the Tar Heels, while senior outside hitter Camilla Ihenetu added a double-double with 14 kills and 11 digs. Virginia was led by Sarah Kirkwood's 15 kills.
The Tar Heels will now prepare for a trip to Durham Sept. 29 to face archrival Duke. First serve for that match is set for 7 p.m. The winner of that match will receive one point for their school in the Carlyle Cup - the annual all-sport competition between the two schools.
