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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
1-2
Chicago State
0-3
No. 7 Carolina Dominates Chicago State In Sweep
August 30, 2015 | Volleyball
LOS ANGELES --- No. 7 North Carolina picked up its first win of 2015 with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-9, 25-8) sweep of Chicago State Saturday night at the Galen Center in its final match of the Women of Troy Baden Invitational. Carolina hit close to .400 for the match and held the Cougars to a negative hitting percentage, with senior Paige Neuenfeldt leading the way with 11 kills and three blocks. San Diego native Tatiana Durr had nine kills and six digs as the Tar Heels improved to 1-2 on the young season.
"This was a weekend to find out about ourselves and a weekend to learn where we are and where we are going," head coach Joe Sagula said after the match. "We were able to play a lot of people and get valuable experience. The results were not what we wanted but we will be ok. The competition was great and it was challenging and pushed us. We will not be defined by this one weekend but by how we respond and what we do from this point onward. We will learn how to grow and become a better team."
Carolina trailed for just two points over the course of the match and hit an incredible .550 in the final set. Leigh Andrew, who led the Tar Heels in kills in each of the first two matches, was named to the all-tournament team.
UNC broke open a tight first set with a 5-1 run that was fueled by two kills and a solo block from Neuenfeldt. That run made it 14-9, and Chicago State never threatened again.
Jordyn Schnabl served the Tar Heels to a 9-0 run to open the second set, and Heather Gearhart engineered an 8-0 spurt late in the final frame. Neuenfeldt punctuated the sweep with her 11th kill of the night to give Carolina its most one-sided win since the change to 25-point sets in 2008.
"Our preseason schedule will ultimately make us a better team and help us in the long run," Sagula said. "We have some work to do. We are not there yet but the pieces and talent are there. We are looking at where we need to be in December and I am confident we we be in a good place when needed."
UNC returns to the court Friday, Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m. against Wisconsin at the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Louisville, Kentucky.
2015 Women of Troy Baden Invitational All-Tournament Team
Samantha Bricio, Sr., USC (MVP)
Alicia Ogoms, Sr., USC
Brittany Abercrombie, So., USC
Alexa Gray, Sr., BYU
Whitney Young Howard, Jr., BYU
Leigh Andrew, Sr., UNC
Elli Woinowsky, Jr., CSU
