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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
William & Mary
Carolina Volleyball Bounces Back With 3-0 Win
September 3, 2005 | Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- Three Tar Heels reached double figures in kills and senior setter McKenzie Byrd had a season-best 44 assists as the University of North Carolina volleyball team rebounded from its first loss of the season with a three-game win over William and Mary, 30-28, 30-26, 31-29, Saturday afternoon in the USF Powerade/Asics Classic. Senior outside hitter Camilla Ihenetu led the offensive charge with 13 kills.
All three games were tight throughout, and the Tar Heels (2-1) managed to take the first frame despite being outdone by the Tribe (2-3) in almost every statistical category. UNC played from in front for most of the game, but W&M battled back to retake the lead briefly at 25-24. After the Tribe tied the game at 28-all, Ihenetu scored on a tip to give the Tar Heels game point. Freshman outside hitter Lauren Prussing, who finished with double-digit kills for the first time in her career, put down the game-winner to give Carolina a 30-28 win.
Game two was more of the same and featured nine ties and six lead changes, the last of which occured after the Tar Heels fell behind 19-17. Freshman Lauren Taylor, the fifth freshman to play in her first match this weekend, put down a kill that sparked a 5-0 run, giving UNC a 22-19 lead. Carolina would not trail again, winning game two 30-26.
Once again in game three the Tar Heels played with the lead for most of the stanza before the Tribe battled back to tie the score. With the score tied at 14-all, UNC went on a 7-1 run and looked to be putting the match out of reach. But W&M chipped away and eventually tied the match at 27-all. The two squads alternated the next four points before the Tar Heels finally prevailed, 31-29.
Senior libero Taylor Rayfield led a solid Carolina defensive effort, finishing with a team-high 14 digs. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Bekah Brinkley was the third Tar Heel with double-digit kills, tallying 11 for the match.
Carolina will now face host San Francisco to decide the winner of the Powerade/Asics Classic. First serve is set for 7 p.m. PDT.
