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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Tar Heels Top Cavaliers, 3-1
November 20, 2011 | Volleyball
Nov. 20, 2011
Season Statistics | Vote Gibson for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - North Carolina prevailed, 3-1 (29-27, 25-23, 19-25, 25-20) over the Virginia Cavaliers from Memorial Gymnasium. Emily McGee led the Tar Heels with 17 kills and Kaylie Gibson paced the defense with 20 digs.
"I thought we really showed some resilience tonight to be able to hang in there in some really close sets," said head coach Joe Sagula. "It was probably not our sharpest performance, but we found ways to win.
"Some people came off the bench tonight to really give us a boost. Chaney LaReau provided support in the first set after we ran out of subs, and in game four, I thought Heather Henry was outstanding. We needed some different people to step up tonight for us and they did. So we're excited to take this match and begin preparing for NC State."
Carolina fell behind early in the opening set (6-2), but battled back to take a three-point advantage (11-8) following a Virginia attack error, forcing the Cavaliers to call a timeout. Virginia battled back to retake the lead (20-19) after an attack error Henry, before the Tar Heels responded by taking the next three points to go back up by two (22-20) on an attack error by Tori Janowski. UNC held on to take the first set in extra points (29-27), capturing set point on a kill by Chaniel Nelson, assisted by Erica Behm.
Jumping out to another early lead in set two was Carolina (7-4), but the Cavaliers again came back to retake the lead (11-10) on a Henry attack error. The Tar Heels countered with a 5-1 run to go back ahead by three (14-11), following an attack error by Virginia's Simone Asque. The Cavaliers rallied to even the score (23-23), but the Tar Heels took the final two points, including a service ace by Nelson for set point (25-23).
Virginia made adjustments out of intermission to take a five-point lead (13-8) in the third set, capped by a service ace from Sydney Shelton. Carolina fought back to within one (15-14) after a McGee kill, but the Cavaliers answered with a 7-1 run to go up by seven (22-15). Virginia finished off set point (25-19) on a service error by UNC.
Carolina fell behind to begin set four (4-0) before rattling off five straight points, capped by back-to-back Nelson kills to pull ahead by one (5-4). The Tar Heels later extended their lead to four (16-12) following a Cavalier ball-handling error. Virginia later evened the score (19-19) after an attack error by Henry but Carolina won the next three points to go back up by three (22-19) on a McGee kill. The Tar Heels closed out set four and the match with another kill by McGee.
Carolina completes its regular season with a road match at NC State Wednesday, Nov. 23, at 1 p.m.
