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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Tar Heels Fall To Hokies In Four
October 26, 2006 | Volleyball
Oct. 26, 2006
CHAPEL HILL --- Amy Beaver had 15 kills, seven digs and five blocks, but North Carolina fell to Virginia Tech, 30-28, 25-30, 30-16, 31-29, Thursday night at Carmichael Auditorium. Stephanie Jansma added a double-double with 47 assists and 11 digs, while Taylor Parrish had a match-high 19 kills to lead the Hokies.
Carolina (6-15, 4-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) came out strong to open game one, getting two kills and a block from Beaver to build a quick 7-2 lead. The Tar Heels would spend most of the remainder of the frame trying to hold off Virginia Tech (13-9, 7-6 ACC) who finally tied it at 19 on a block by Allie Kupec and Michelle Lang. UNC responded with five of the next seven points to take a 24-21 lead and force the Virginia Tech's final timeout.
But the Tar Heels were unable to keep the hot-hitting visitors at bay. The Hokies, who hit a blistering .441 for the game, came out of the timeout and won seven of the next nine points to pull ahead 28-26. After the two squads traded side outs, a Lauren Prussing kill staved off one game point before Parrish put down the game-winner. Parrish proved to be the difference, finishing with eight kills on 12 errorless swings in the frame.
UNC played with the lead again in game two, but the Tar Heels were able to finish the job with a 30-25 win. Two kills and a block from Megan Owens gave Carolina a 7-3 advantage that would grow to six at 14-8. The advantage would swell to as much as eight at 28-20 before the Hokies finally made a run. A Parrish kill capped a 5-0 run that cut the Tar Heel lead to three, but kills by Prussing and Beaver sealed it for UNC.
Virginia Tech blew open a tight third game to cruise to a 30-16 win. Behind a block that held Carolina to a .000 hitting percentage for the frame, the Hokies closed with a 15-3 run to take a 2-1 lead in the match. The key stretch came with Tech leading 15-13. The Hokies won eight of nine points, powered by four blocks, to put the game out of reach.
The Tar Heels responded to the Virginia Tech run to end game three with a run of their own. UNC won eight in a row behind two kills and a block by Beaver to build a 10-2 lead. The lead would be as big as nine at 20-11 before the Hokies stormed back. Even with Virginia Tech charging, Carolina had three game points beginning at 29-26. But a kill and three consecutive blocks flipped the advantage to the Hokies, who converted their first match point for a 31-29 win.
Nine players finished with double-digit digs, led by Virginia Tech's Amanda Cloyd with 33 and UNC's Brianna Eskola with 19. Katie Esbrook and Lang each had seven blocks for the Hokies, while Heather Brooks led Carolina with six.
Carolina concludes its four-match home stand Friday night with a 7 p.m. match against Virginia.
