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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
San Francisco
Carolina Volleyball Drops Five-Game Heartbreaker to USF
September 4, 2005 | Volleyball
Sept. 4, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- The University of North Carolina volleyball team dropped a five-game decision to the University of San Francisco in the final game of the USF Powerade/Asics Classic Saturday night, 23-30, 30-26, 22-30, 30-22, 15-13. USF's Kristin Hasselberg tallied 33 kills and was named the tournament's most valuable player. Senior outside hitter Camilla Ihenetu and sophomore middle Christie Clark represented the Tar Heels on the all-tournament team.
UNC (2-2) came out firing in game one, using a pair of 5-0 runs to build a 19-12 lead. The Carolina lead would swell to as much as 10 at 29-19 before the Dons (6-0) went on a 4-0 run to cut the deficit to six. But Bekah Brinkley, who finished with a team-high 17 kills, put down the game-winner to give the Tar Heels an early lead.
USF surged ahead early in game two, building a 17-9 lead before Carolina rallied. Behind the serving of Ihenetu and freshman defensive specialist Brianna Eskola, the Tar Heels went on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 19-all. UNC would briefly lead at 22-21, but could not capitalize on the momentum of the rally, as the Dons won game two 30-26.
Game three was similar to game one as the Tar Heels used strong serving and solid defensive to lead throughout. Once again Brinkley provided the game-winning kill to give Carolina a 2-1 lead in the match.
With a chance to put the match away, Carolina struggled early in game four. After the game was tied at 11-all, USF went on a 14-2 run to build 25-13 lead. Ashley Board served the Tar Heels to a brief rally, cutting the gap to 26-21 before the Dons finally triumphed, 30-22, forcing a fifth game.
San Francisco took the early advantage, capitalizing on the hot swinging of Hasselberg, who seven kills in the stanza. But the Tar Heels were resilient, turning a 6-2 deficit into an 11-9 lead. USF then tied the match at 11-all as the two squads traded points in a series of long, high-energy rallies. Fittingly it was Hasselberg who put down the final ball, giving the Dons a 3-2 win and the tournament title.
Freshman setter Stephanie Jansma recorded her first career double-double in the match, finishing with 35 assists and 14 digs.
The Tar Heels will return home next weekend for their annual home tournament - the GlaxoSmithKline UNC Volleyball Classic. Carolina will play host to South Carolina, Coastal Carolina and Purdue.
