University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Louisville
Career Night for McAdoo Rallies UNC Past Louisville
November 23, 2014 | Volleyball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The No. 7 Carolina volleyball team took all it could handle from the Cardinals but still emerged victorious in its last regular season road match, taking a 3-1 (25-21, 20-25, 27-25, 26-24) victory Sunday afternoon in Cardinal Arena.
“Lauren was tremendous in this match, stepping up both offensively and defensively. She found ways to score in really tough situations,” said Head Coach Joe Sagula.
Lauren McAdoo turned out a career performance for UNC, knocking down a career-high 17 kills and 13 digs for her first career double-double.
Paige Neuenfeldt added a season-high 13 kills and two blocks for the Tar Heels, while Jordyn Schnabl added her third double-double of the season with 30 assists and 10 digs.
“I compliment Louisville for putting out a great effort, they really played well. They are a very talented offensive team and we knew that coming in,” said Sagula.
“Playing at home, on their senior night, we knew this was going to be a battle and I am proud of our team for finding a way to win.”
The match was full of momentum swings for both teams, as there were 22 total tie scores and twelve lead changes in the match. The only exception proved to be set one, where North Carolina found an early advantage.
Carolina sprinted to a quick 14-7 lead in set one behind four early service aces. The Cardinals rallied to cut the lead to three, but a service error and then a kill from Victoria McPherson held off Louisville and gave UNC a 17-12 lead.
A kill from Nelson pushed the Tar Heel advantage to 21-16 in the frame, but two points later Louisville stayed close with a back row kill. Carolina finished the tight first frame 25-21 with a kill from Taylor Treacy and then a block from Treacy and Neuenfeldt.
There was no quick start to set two for North Carolina, as Louisville used strong serving to grab a three-point lead at 9-6 and then extend it to 10-6 with a kill by Maya McClendon. The Tar Heels could not get over the hump early in the set, as Louisville maintained the advantage at 15-12 and then 19-16.
Carolina threatened as McAdoo grabbed two kills late in the set, but a kill by Maggie Dejong secured set two at 25-20 for the Cardinals.
Out of the locker room, both teams battled point-for-point in a set three that featured 10 ties and three lead changes. The Tar Heels received a boost from Chaniel Nelson, who added four kills and two blocks in set three, doubling her totals for the match in both of those categories.
A Nelson kill tied the third frame at 5-5, and then Hayley McCorkle tied the game again at 8-8. Carolina took its first lead of set three at 10-9 after a Louisville hitting error.
The Cardinals responded with a three-point run to take a 12-10 lead. A kill from Neuenfeldt cut the lead to 13-12 before a back row swing from Leigh Andrew tied the game at 13-13.
Louisville again responded with a run, going up 15-13 after setter Katie George scored on a tip attempt. The Tar Heels battled back and tied the game at 16-16 after defensive specialist Sheila Doyle subbed in and grabbed an ace.
The largest lead for any team came for Louisville at 20-17, but Carolina dug deep and responded with two straight points to pull within one at 20-19.
Louisville scored but UNC battled to force two errors from the Cardinals and tie the match at 22-22.
Neuenfeldt earned a the point and the lead after tapping an overpass off the back row setter, but a McClendon kill tied the game for Louisville at 23-23.
The Tar Heels responded with a kill from McAdoo, but she missed on the serve and game three was tied again at 24-24. Nelson combined with Beth Nordhorn for the block, but the Cardinals setter George scored on another attack attempt to make it 25-25.
Carolina finally found a way to end it, as Nelson pounded her fourth kill of the game to get the one-point lead, and then a Louisville hitting error clinched set three 27-25 for UNC.
After a rollercoaster set three, Carolina grabbed an early 6-2 lead in set four and seemed poised to cruise in the frame. Louisville had other ideas, as the Cardinals rallied to tie the game at 13-13 after a kill by Laura Blab, and then took a two-point lead at 16-14.
Another McAdoo kill tied the game at 17-17, and then a kill from Neuenfeldt pushed the score to 18-17.
The Tar Heels held a 23-20 lead late in the fourth frame, but the Cardinals refused to buckle and tied the match at 23-23 before a block by Maggie Dejong and Janelle Jenkins gave Louisville set point at 24-23.
McCorkle responded with a big kill to tie the game at 24-24, and then McCorkle and Victoria McPherson combined for the block to go up 25-24. An attack error from Laura Blab would finish the game at 26-24 and give UNC the 3-1 win in the match.
Nelson finished the match with nine kills and three blocks for Carolina, while Abigail Curry added 24 assists and nine digs.
Victoria McPherson led UNC with four blocks and added six kills, while Taylor Treacy had seven kills and two blocks.
Ece Taner led the UNC defense with 26 digs, a season-high, and added one service ace for the Tar Heels.
North Carolina (24-2, 15-1) will host two matches this week as it wraps up conference and regular season action. The No. 21 Duke Blue Devils will travel to Carmichael Arena for a 2 p.m. matchup on Wednesday.
The Tar Heels will host Wake Forest on Friday at 2 p.m. for its Senior Night Match, honoring its four seniors before the game against the Demon Deacons.
