North Carolina
Clemson
Tar Heels Head South For Clemson, Georgia Tech
September 27, 2017 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina volleyball hits the road this weekend after playing a pair of five-set matches to open ACC play. The Tar Heels dropped the first two sets at NC State and again against Louisville, but came back to win the third and fourth to force a tiebreaker both nights. The Wolfpack, backed by 3,254 screaming fans, hung on to win 15-11 on ACC opening night, but Carolina was victorious on Sunday, erasing a 7-3 deficit to defeat the Cardinals, 15-12. After playing five of the last six matches at home, North Carolina will travel to Clemson and Georgia Tech for a pair of ACC road matches this weekend. Friday's match will be streamed on ACC Network Extra, while Sunday's contest will air live on ESPNU.Â
Friday, Sept. 29 | 7 p.m.
North Carolina (4-6, 1-1 ACC)) at Clemson (5-9, 0-2 ACC)
Where: Jervey Gym
Admission: FREE
Watch:Â ACC Network Extra
Stats:Â UNCLiveStats.com
Sunday, Oct. 1Â | 3Â p.m.
North Carolina (4-6, 1-1) at Georgia Tech (6-7, 1-1)
Where: O'Keefe Gymnasium
Admission: $4 Adults | $2 Youth (18+under)/Seniors (55+) | Buy Tickets
Watch: ESPNU
Stats:Â GameTracker
Against the Field
Carolina has been successful over the years against both of this weekend's opponents, going 59-16 against Clemson and 37-24 all time against Georgia Tech, including a perfect 4-0 last season.
The Tar Heels have defeated Clemson in 59 of their 75 meetings and are currently riding an 11-match winning streak over the Tigers. UNC has not lost to CU since 2009 and has gone an impressive 21-6 all time at Clemson.
The Yellow Jackets have a slight edge on the series at home, winning 14 of the 26 matches in Atlanta, but Carolina has returned from O'Keefe Gymnasium victorious on the last three trips dating back to 2014. UNC has not lost at GT since 2012, a five-setter. Much like the Tar Heels' last match against Louisville on Sunday, North Carolina trailed 0-2 to Georgia Tech in their last meeting on Nov. 12, 2016, but came all the way back to win, 3-2, to continue its trajectory towards an ACC Championship.
Heels Come Roaring Back on ACC Opening Weekend
The Tar Heels got off to a slow start to open ACC play, dropping the first two sets against NC State and Louisville. However, Carolina's "never say die" attitude showed up in the second half, as UNC erased both 0-2 deficits to force fifth sets. On Sept. 22 at NC State, the Heels struggled early, falling behind 0-3 in the fifth and never quite got going, as they dropped the ACC opener, 3-2, with a 15-11 decision in the fifth. However, despite falling behind 3-7 in the fifth set against Louisville, the Tar Heels came roaring back to defeat the Cardinals, 15-12, and claim the 3-2 match victory.Â
UNC enters the weekend after playing in four consecutive five-set matches. Carolina is 2-2 on the year in five-setters, having dropped the first then won the second over each of the past two weekends. Carolina went 7-2 in five-set matches last season, including two comeback victories after dropping the first two sets.
Moseman Returns to Roster
Defensive specialist Greer Moseman has returned to Carolina's active roster, effective Sept. 23. The Rancho Santa Fe, California, native appeared in 16 matches last season as true freshman, subbing in when needed as a serving or defensive specialist. She did not see any action early in the season, but earned her place in the travel party after serving up an ace as part of a key six-point run in her first-ever appearance against Miami on Oct. 9, 2016. She would go on to play in 16 of the final 18 matches of the year, totaling 16 digs and five aces.
Moseman elected to leave the team during the spring of 2017, but accepted an invitation to return in late September. Moseman has had the opportunity to make an immediate impact, playing in the final four sets against Louisville in her first match back on the roster, where she posted a career-high eight digs to help Carolina erase an 0-2 deficit to defeat the Cardinals in five sets.
Statistically Speaking
- Beth Nordhorn leads the ACC and ranks 13th in the NCAA in hitting percentage (.431), ranking fifth with a .440 clip on ACC opening weekend
- Mia Fradenburg ranks second in the ACC with 4.53 digs per set
- Casey Jacobs ranks fifth in the ACC with 3.90 digs per set in conference play
- Katharine Esterley (1.18) and Taylor Fricano (1.09) rank fifth and ninth, respectively in the ACC in blocks per set
- Fricano also ranks sixth with 1.56 blocks per set in ACC play
- Taylor Leath is ninth in the ACC in kills (3.47/s) and 10th in points (3.85/s)
- Holly Carlton is one of 17 players in the nation and was the second in the ACC to record a triple-double this season
