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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
14-8 (11-2ACC)
Syracuse
17-7 (8-5ACC)
Tar Heels Squeeze Orange in Four
November 7, 2015 | Volleyball
Syracuse, N.Y. – The Orange did not make it easy, but Carolina held strong to march past Syracuse on Friday night, 3-1 (25-19, 18-25, 26-24, 25-21). Syracuse led the Tar Heels in nearly every statistical category, but Carolina performed best down the stretch to capture its sixth straight victory and improve to 14-8 (11-2 ACC). With the loss, Syracuse falls to 17-7 (8-5 ACC).
“I thought this was one of the biggest wins of the season,” said head coach Joe Sagula. “This was as hard a fought battle as I've seen all season. Syracuse was outstanding. They were gritty, they were physical and they blocked well. We both just battled back and forth and it got pretty heated. It was just great competition on both sides.
“This is an NCAA caliber team. I don't know how they'll finish, but if they keep winning, they could make a run. They are a great team, and I think we played great. I'm just so proud of our team.”
Taylor Leath led the Tar Heel offense, registering her fifth straight double-digit performance with 14 kills. Leigh Andrew recorded her third consecutive double-double with 12 kills and 15 digs, while Taylor Treacy posted her first-ever double-double with 11 kills, a career-high 11 digs and a personal best six blocks.
“Leigh Andrew played great,” said Sagula. “Taylor Treacy and Taylor Leath—the pins were the story tonight. The middles kept us in it, but our pins were just great and exactly what we needed them to be. And that's how you're going to win this time of year.”
Paige Neuenfeldt teamed up with Treacy on the majority of the Tar Heels' blocks, registering a team-high seven of the team's 10 stuffs. The senior middle also posted seven kills, while fellow middle Victoria McPherson slammed nine kills.
Abigail Curry was a dig shy of the team's third double-double with 45 assists, nine digs and an ace. Sheila Doyle registered her fourth 20-dig performance of the season with a match-best 23, and Tatina Durr put up 11 to go with a pair of service aces.
“Abbey did a great job again setting a big-time match for us,” said Sagula. “Shelia again had 23 digs. I'm just so happy that we can get on the road with a big win and keep the momentum going.”
Syracuse took the early lead in set one, winning some long rallies to pull in front, 7-4. However, a 4-0 run served out by Heather Gearhart propelled the Tar Heels ahead, 12-10, and Carolina forged further in front down the stretch to take the opening set, 25-19.
The Orange won the first two points of the second set and once again led 7-4. Carolina tied the score at 11, but an error by McPherson put Syracuse back in front, and the Orange never again trailed. A 5-0 run made it 20-13, and a kill by Santita Ebangwese allowed Cuse to tie the match at one set apiece with a 25-18 win in the second.
Carolina led for the majority of the third set, pulling ahead, 23-20, down the stretch, but the Orange did not back down, winning four straight to be the first to reach set point, 24-23. Following a UNC timeout, Andrew tied the score at 24 with a kill. Taylor Fricano then subbed in for Curry to provide extra height in the front row but leaving the Tar Heels without a setter on the court. The sophomore got the job done, registering a kill and a block to secure the third set for Carolina, 26-24.
The Tar Heels controlled the pace of the fourth set early, but a seven-point run midway through the frame flipped a 14-10 lead into a 17-14 deficit. A timeout helped lead to an error by server Nicolette Serratore, and a block and two kills by Neuenfeldt returned the lead to Carolina, 18-17. A swing by Ebangwese tied the score at 19, but Carolina won five of the next six to reach match point, 24-20, on a solo block by McPherson. A kill by Serratore erased the Tar Heels' first attempt, but Leath finished it out with a kill to win the match in four, 25-21.
Carolina continues north to Massachusetts on Sunday, Nov. 6,, taking on Boston College at Noon.
