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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
USC
Heels Fall To Trojans 3-0
August 29, 2009 | Volleyball
Aug. 29, 2009
EAST LANSING, MICH. - North Carolina fell to Southern Cal in three sets Saturday in the second game of the MSU Showcase. Carolina falls to 1-1 on the year as the Trojans improve to 1-1 on the season. Suzanne Haydel led the Tar Heels posting five kills and 11 digs. Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland also posted six kills for the Tar Heels. The Trojans were led by Alex Jupiter's 11 kills and Kendall Batmen's 36 assists.Southern Cal posted a .296 hitting percentage and 49 kills to Carolina's .159 percentage and 23 kills.
In the opening set Courtney Johnston placed a perfect tip to get the Heels on the board early. In her first action of the season senior Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland posted a great block to keep Carolina close. The Trojans jumped out to an early 14-9 lead behind a couple kills from sophomore Alex Jupiter to prompt a Carolina timeout. The Trojans fired back with four more points to prompt yet another Joe Sagula timeout. Jupiter then placed another serve ace to stretch the lead to 21-9 before a Branagan Fuller kill. Another serve ace from junior Kimmee Roleder claimed the first set for the Trojans 25-11. Suzanne Haydel and Fuller posted a pair of kills in the first set to lead the Tar Heels who hit only .111 in set one.The Trojans hit .419 in the first set with 17 kills to UNC's six kills and .111 hitting percentage.
The second set proved to be much closer. Branagan Fuller and Heather Brooks put the Heels up early with a kill and a block respectively. The Trojans fired back with a couple points before a Heather Henry and Hanson-Tuntland block. Courtney Johnston entered the game to put the Heels in front 9-8 with a block. Johnston got on the offensive adding a kill to push the Heels in front 12-8 after a Southern Cal timeout. The Trojans battled back to cut the Carolina lead to three at 15-12 before a powerful Hanson-Tuntland kill. Southern Cal tied the score at 19 issuing a Carolina timeout. The Trojans then pushed in front 22-20 to prompt another Carolina timeout. Suzanne Haydel got the Heels close with a kill to cut the lead to two at 23-21 before the Trojans took the set 25-22. Carolina held USC to only a .102 hitting percentage in the second set, but rendered three serve aces to drop the frame.
In the third set Carolina continued to play competitive. Haydel added a kill to knot the score at five before a 4-0 Trojan run. Southern Cal proved to be too much as the Heels were forced to take a timeout behind 15-8. Carolina answered back with a 3-1 run to cut the Trojan lead to 16-11; before the Trojans jumped back out to a 21-14 lead. Carolina eventually fell 25-16 in the third set to drop the game to the Trojans. Southern Cal hit .500 in the third set posting 16 kills.
Freshman Heather Henry saw her first action of her career in the match posting a block assist. Emily McGee also played in her first career match Saturday recording one dig. Another freshman Cora Harms registered 15 assists in her second career match.
The meeting was the second ever between the Tar Heels and the Trojans. In 1999 Carolina fell to USC in three sets in the Long Beach State Tournament. The Tar Heels will one more match tonight against tournament host Michigan State at 7:30 p.m. The Spartans improved to 2-0 on the season after defeating Albany in three sets and Southern Cal in a five set thriller Friday night.
