Tar Heels Conclude Road Trip at Georgia Tech, Clemson

Friday, October 26

Atlanta

7 PM

North Carolina

Georgia Tech

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

October 25, 2018 | Volleyball

Watch vs. Georgia Tech (Friday)Watch vs. Clemson (Sunday)Notes

CHAPEL HILL – Looking to return to their winning ways, the Tar Heels wrap up their four-match road trip at Georgia Tech Friday and Clemson Sunday.

Friday's match at Georgia Tech is slated for 7 p.m. while Sunday's at Clemson begins at 1 p.m. Fans can watch both matches on the ACC Network Extra.

North Carolina is seeking its first win since topping NC State on Sept. 26 at home. Despite a winless recent stretch, the Tar Heels have shown their fight, battling Boston College to a 25-27 set score within the 0-3 loss on Sunday. UNC ranks seventh in blocks in the ACC with 2.25 per set.

About the Tar Heels (5-14, 1-9 ACC)

After earning their first ACC win at home over NC State, The Tar Heels have struggled to pick up a second. UNC managed to take a set from both Miami and Florida State, but fell in straight sets in the past four matches (two at home vs. Pitt and UVA and two on the road at Syracuse and Boston College).
Head coach Joe Sagula is one win away from 800 career wins and four away from 600 with the Tar Heels.
Destiny Cox leads UNC with 209 kills, followed by Ava Bell (142) and Skylar Wine (146). Katharine Esterley tacks on 55 blocks to Bell's team-best 58. Hunter Atherton runs the offense, averaging 9.12 assists per set to rank seventh in the ACC. Starting libero, Mia Fradenburg owns team-best 244 digs.
Each of UNC's preseason losses were against either ranked teams or teams receiving votes in the AVCA poll.

About the Yellow Jackets (13-10, 2-8 ACC)
Returning home after four road matches, Georgia Tech is looking for its second home win since defeating Clemson on Oct. 3. The Yellow Jackets topped Duke to come home with a 1-3 record. Georgia Tech leads the all-time series against the Tar Heels when playing in Atlanta, 15-12.

Despite a 2-8 conference record, Georgia Tech has managed to take at least a set in all but three ACC matches. The Yellow Jackets defeated Clemson at home in five sets and earned a 3-1 road win over Duke.
Offense is led by Mariana Brambilla (320 total kills) and Mikaila Dowd (264 total kills) who both average over 3.30 kills per set. Kodie Comby ranks eighth in the ACC with a .348 hitting percentage (.406 in ACC)
Primary setters are Matti McKissock (6.78 A/S) and Lexi Dorn (4.82 A/S).
Ranks third in the ACC 14.91 digs per set, led by Maddie Tippett with 3.69 digs per set.
UNC and Georgia Tech split last year's meetings with the home team winning in each match, 3-1 in Atlanta and 3-2 in Chapel Hill. Prior to 2016, Carolina won five consecutive matches.

About the Tigers (11-12, 2-8 ACC)
Coming out of nonconference play with a 9-2 record, Clemson picked up two ACC wins in three-set fashion. The Tigers defeated Virginia Tech at home Oct. 7 and earned a road win at Miami last weekend. Setter Gabby Easton ranks 14th nationally with 952 total assists and 31st with 10.94 assist/set.

Clemson is coming off a split weekend in the Sunshine State with a sweep of Miami and a 3-1 loss at Florida State. The sweep of the Hurricanes marked the first Clemson victory over Miami since 2011 and first road win over the Hurricanes since 2009.
Primary setter is ACC Freshman of the Week Gabby Easton who ranks second in the ACC with 10.94 A/S
Offense is led by Brooke Bailey with 278 kills to average 3.20 kills per set
In head coach Michaela Franklin's second season, Clemson has matched its ACC win total and upped the Tigers' overall wins by four. Franklin most recently came from Iowa as an associate head coach.
The Tar Heels have won 13-straight against Clemson with the most recent loss in Oct. 31, 2009.

Up Next
The Tar Heels return home to Carmichael Arena on Nov. 2 vs. Duke and Nov. 4 vs. Wake Forest.

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