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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Davidson
Tar Heels Take Carolina Classic
September 6, 2008 | Volleyball
Sept. 6, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina did not trail in its final match of the Carolina Classic as the Tar Heels rolled to a 3-0 (25-10, 25-14, 25-18) sweep of Davidson in front of a crowd of 966 to improve to 3-3 on the year. Senior Stephanie Jansma earned Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament as she turned in 71 assists in the three victories for the Tar Heels. North Carolina will now travel to Colorado to take on Colorado State and Colorado in a pair of non-conference tilts next week.
The key for the Tar Heels all weekend was their ability to stop any sort of run from their opponent and did just that to start the opening set against Davidson as the Tar Heels converted nine of 10 potential sideouts. Courtney Johnston led the team with three kills in the opening frame while hitting .500 to lead Carolina to a .438 team hitting percentage. Carolina cruised to a 25-10 opening set win.
The Carolina outside hitters stepped up once again in the second set as Lauren Prussing, Suzanne Haydel and Courtney Johnston combined for 11 of Carolina's 17 kills. Prussing led the group with five and contributed a block as the Tar Heels turned away seven shots in the win. Carolina led 17-12 late in the match before going on a run that had become routine in the tournament of the 7-1 variety before closing out the set at 25-14.
The Tar Heels earned the first five points of set number three on the back of a pair of Suzanne Haydel kills and a service ace from freshman Erica Behm. The Wildcats would pull within five (21-16) late in the match before committing a service error. Heather Brooks and Lauren Prussing would ensure the Tar Heels of a perfect weekend as Brooks tallied a pair of kills and Prussing added one of her nine on the night to close out the set and the match.
Brianna Eskola led the Tar Heels with 10 digs from her libero position, while Jansma finished with a team-high 15 assists as she sat out the final set to give freshman Erica Behm some reps as Behm finished with nine assists for the Tar Heels. Joining the MVP Jansma on the all-tournament team were Heather Brooks and Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland of North Carolina, Cara Hackmann and Sara Staubach of Missouri State, Katherine Niesen of Georgetown and Kittery Neale of Davidson.
The Tar Heels have battled their way back to the .500 mark at 3-3 on the season after dropping their opening three matches at the competitive Illini Classic. Carolina will now make a trip West to Colorado to take on Colorado State on Friday, Sept. 12 in Fort Collins, Colo. before closing out the road trip in Boulder, Colo. against the Buffaloes of Colorado on Saturday, Sept. 13.
