University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
9-8, 6-2ACC
Miami
12-6, 5-3ACC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 15 | 21 | 16 | 0 |
| North Carolina | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Tar Heels Weather Hurricanes, 3-0
October 18, 2015 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL – Carolina volleyball came out strong on Sunday afternoon, racing a a 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-16) victory over Miami to captures its sixth conference victory of the season. The Tar Heels used their patented dominant block and a well-balanced attack to sweep the 'Canes, improving to 9-8 (6-2 ACC), while Miami dropped to 12-6 (5-3 ACC).
“Just a great rebound match for us I think,” said head coach Joe Sagula, “after having a disappointing five-set loss Friday, to come back and to play so well. We especially came out strong in the first set. I thought the team did a really good job executing our game plan. Miami is a really good team, a very good offensive team, and our block took the challenge and really slowed them down a bit.
“I was just really proud of how we played. We had a simple plan; our middles were outstanding today. Our right sides, we wanted to get them the ball and take some good swings. It was just a good, balanced match for us.”
Setters Jordyn Schnabl and Abigail Curry did a fantastic job of spreading the ball around, as six attackers had between four and seven kills. The attack was led by middle hitter Victoria McPherson, who hit .667 with seven slams, followed by Paige Neuenfeldt and Taylor Fricano who had six kills apiece.
“This weekend, something that and Coach Sagula and I have talked about is being aggressive with my approach,” said Fricano, after totaling 21 kills on the weekend. “It seems that I get better swings that way, so we were trying to really speed up my approach, make it more dynamic, and that just gives me more height to hit over blockers and just a faster arm in general.”
“Taylor's working on being really consistent for us,” said Sagula of the sophomore transfer. “She's really, really good when she goes up hard, and I think she's kind of come into herself in understanding that when she goes really hard she can be unstoppable.”
Schnabl registered a double-double with 12 assists and 11 digs, while Curry posted 13 assists and five digs. Coming off her first career 20-dig performance on Friday night, libero Shelia Doyle paced the back row with a match-best 17 digs to go with six assists.
The ACC's best blocking unit did not miss a beat on Sunday, putting up an impressive 16.0 blocks in just three sets. Neuenfeldt led the Heels with nine roofs, while Fricano, Taylor Treacy and McPherson stuffed five apiece.
“Sixteen blocks in three sets is very good, and that shows a lot of discipline by our blockers adjusting to the different tempos of attack,” said Sagula. “This is a good match for us to play at home to hopefully create momentum as we take it on the road to Atlanta and over at Clemson this weekend.”
Carolina raced out to a 4-0 lead to open the first set, then kept the momentum throughout the opening stanza, to take the first, 25-15.
The second set was highly contested, with 11 tie scores and six lead changes. The two teams traded points early, until back-to-back kills by Kolby Bird gave Miami a 13-10 lead. The Tar Heels fought back with a 7-1 run to take a 17-14 lead, but Miami replied to tie the score at 18. An ace by Taylor Scott knotted the score at 20 all, but it was Carolina who prevailed down the stretch, winning five of the final six points to take the second set, 25-21, and bring a 2-0 lead to the locker room.
The Tar Heels sprinted out of the break to take a 10-3 lead in the third set, and Carolina never let off the gas, capturing a 25-16 win to claim a three-set victory over the Hurricanes.
UNC hits the road next weekend to take on Georgia Tech and Clemson in ACC play. The Tar Heels square off with the Yellow Jackets on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m., then match up with Clemson on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m.
