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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Liberty
Tar Heels Edge Lady Flames 3-1
September 3, 2011 | Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2011
KALAMAZOO, Mich.--North Carolina (4-1) edged Liberty 3-1 (25-19, 25-14, 28-30, 25-20) from Read Fieldhouse to win the Western Michigan Invitational. Behind a career-high number of kills from Kayla Berringer (23) and Chaniel Nelson (13), the Tar Heels won their third consecutive match. Berringer and Tia Gaffen were named to the Western Michigan Invitational All-Tournament Team. Emily McGee collected double-digit kills and assists for the third straight match and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
"I'm delighted that we could win a tournament early in the season," said head coach Joe Sagula. "I think it helps build confidence for the team. I thought that we handled ourselves really well. Our offense really started to emerge this weekend, which we were hoping would happen. Our passing and serving were solid once again, but our biggest improvement was hitting over .300 as a team in all three matches this weekend. "
Carolina took the lead early in the first set 8-5 on a service ace by senior libero Kaylie Gibson. The Flames battled back to even the score at 10-10. The Tar Heels then responded with a 4-1 run capped by a kill by Berringer off an assist from Cora Harms, forcing Liberty to call timeout. UNC then cruised to a 25-19 first-set victory with the Flames never coming closer than four points. Nelson paced the Tar Heels offensively with five kills on nine swings and no errors for a .556 hitting percentage. Pacing Carolina defensively was Kaylie Gibson with five digs.
With set two tied at two all, the Tar Heels unleashed four straight kills, two from Berringer and one each from Gaffen and Nelson, to go up 6-2. Following a Liberty timeout, the Lady Flames battled back to even the score at 10. UNC responded with a 15-4 tear to roll over the Flames 25-14 in the second frame. Nelson and Berringer again led the way, with Nelson going a perfect five-for-five with no errors for a 1.000 hitting percentage and Berringer posting eight kills for an .889 percentage.
The Flames found their rhythm in the third frame, opening up an 11-8 lead and forcing the Tar Heels to call their first timeout. UNC fought back and regained the lead, 16-15, on an attack error by Liberty. The Flames went back up 20-17 and the Tar Heels again battled back to even the score at 21 apiece on back-to-back kills by Berringer. Liberty needed extra points to capture the third frame 30-28.
The Tar Heels asserted themselves in set four, jumping out to an 11-7 lead off consecutive kills from Nelson and McGee, both assisted by Behm. Liberty erased the Carolina advantage to tie to score at 15. It was back and forth the rest of the way, until UNC closed out the fourth set 25-19 on a 6-1 run.
McGee posted double-digit kills and assists for the third consecutive match and was named Western Michigan Invitational Tournament MVP. Berringer bested her career-high 13 kills from the previous match against Seton Hall, tallying 23 kills en route to an All-Tournament Team selection. Gaffen also corralled All-Tournament honors, posting a career-high 11 kills against Liberty.
During the Tar Heels win streak, they have hit over .300 in each match. Against Liberty, UNC cranked 70 kills on 158 attempts with 20 errors for a .316 hitting efficiency.
Carolina returns home for its next match as the Tar Heels host the 2011 Carolina Classic from Carmichael Arena beginning Sept. 9, against San Diego at 7:30 p.m.
