Friday, October 11
Chapel Hill, N.C.
6:30 PM
North Carolina
6-9, 3-2ACC
3
vs
1
Miami
7-6, 3-2ACC
1
2
3
4
F
Miami
14
25
15
23
1
North Carolina
25
22
25
25
3
Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati
Carolina Block Party Downs Miami, 3-1
October 11, 2019 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – As the nation's top-20 blocking team, North Carolina topped Miami, 3-1, on Friday evening in Carmichael Arena, highlighted by a season-best 24.0 total blocks.
Although nearly breaking a program record of 27.0 blocks set 33 years ago in 1986, the Tar Heels reset their single-match block assist record with 44 on the night. UNC totaled 38 in a four-set match at Duke on Sept. 1, 2016.
Freshman Skyy Howard paved the way for Carolina's block, recording a match-best 11.0 block assists and two solo blocks. Resetting their single-match highs, Destiny Cox and Aristea Tontai tacked on eight blocks apiece while Tontai's tough serving resulted in three aces. Mia Fradenburg recorded her fourth 20+ dig match to lead the back row while Parker Austin tallied a match-best 17 kills for her 10th match in double digits. Lauren Harrison steadily tacked on 13 kills, including six in the fourth set.
The Tar Heels held Miami to a .087 hitting percentage on the night – the lowest percentage since facing Elon in 2018. Miami's Janet Kalaniuvalu posted 13 kills but was limited to a .044 clip. Winning three-straight matches, UNC improves to 6-9 on the season, 3-2 in ACC play while the Hurricanes slide to 7-6, 3-2 in conference.
"This team has stayed committed to the process of getting better and comes every day to work hard at practice," head coach Joe Sagula said. "Our commitment to what we've been doing in practice every day is beginning to show. Early in the season we were up and down. Our leaders have taken charge. We're hitting a good streak right now and building confidence. Even in the losses, we've learned to never put our head down. Even with the start of ACC play, we kept a positive outlook. We knew if we stayed consistent, good things would start happening. This is a good indication of that effort."
Carolina jumped to a 6-0 from the start of the match, forcing Miami to call time early in the match. The Hurricanes responded with a three-point run, but Howard put UNC back on track with a kill. Carolina completed another 3-0 run with a kill by Tontai and two blocks by Austin, Howard and Destiny Cox, creating a 19-10 edge. The Tar Heels secured the set with kills by leaders Austin and Howard, taking the set, 25-14.
A kill by Tontai put Carolina on the board with the first point of the set. Miami fought back on five-point run, cutting UNC's lead to one. Miami tied up the score at 13-13 on a kill by Savannah Vach, but Carolina fought back with back-to-back kills by Austin. Another tie at 21-21 forced Carolina to use its first timeout of the set. Working through seven tie scores, Miami won the set 25-22 with a kill by Kalaniuvalu.
Mirroring the first set, UNC took an early lead, 10-6, as Miami called its first set timeout after a block by Cox and Tontai. Carolina pulled ahead on a series of Miami errors for five-point edge at the media break. The Tar Heels went on a seven-point run thanks to a trio of blocks by Peck, Harrison and Tontai before a kill by Kennendy Price put the Canes on the board. Carolina wrapped up the set with a kill by Austin for a 2-1 advantage with the 25-15 set score.
Similar to the second set, Miami came out with a three-point lead in the fourth frame. However, Carolina fought back with kills by Cox and Austin. Howard delivered back-to-back kills, giving her nine kills for the match. Carolina managed to regain the lead, 8-6, after a Miami error. Battling through 14 tie scores in the set, both teams called time in the last five points of the frame. Service error by Miami tied the score again at 23-all, but a block by Cox and Tontai set up match point. In a fitting ending to UNC's block party night, Cox and Tontai clinched the 25-23 win with UNC's 24th block of the night.
Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Parker Austin (17)
» Assists: Hunter Atherton (30)
» Digs: Mia Fradenburg (20)
» Total Blocks: Skyy Howard (13.0)
Noteworthy
» Tying the third-most blocks by a team in a four-set match this season nationally, the Tar Heels upped their season-best to 24.0 total blocks. – up from 19.5 at NC State on Oct. 2.
» Skyy Howard reset her single-match high to 13.0 total blocks – the most blocks by a Tar Heel this season. Howard was one kill away from her a match-best and first double-double with nine kills.
Up Next
The Tar Heels wrap up their three-match homestand Sunday at noon vs. No. 23 Florida State in Carmichael Arena.
Stay up to date with Carolina Volleyball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Although nearly breaking a program record of 27.0 blocks set 33 years ago in 1986, the Tar Heels reset their single-match block assist record with 44 on the night. UNC totaled 38 in a four-set match at Duke on Sept. 1, 2016.
Freshman Skyy Howard paved the way for Carolina's block, recording a match-best 11.0 block assists and two solo blocks. Resetting their single-match highs, Destiny Cox and Aristea Tontai tacked on eight blocks apiece while Tontai's tough serving resulted in three aces. Mia Fradenburg recorded her fourth 20+ dig match to lead the back row while Parker Austin tallied a match-best 17 kills for her 10th match in double digits. Lauren Harrison steadily tacked on 13 kills, including six in the fourth set.
The Tar Heels held Miami to a .087 hitting percentage on the night – the lowest percentage since facing Elon in 2018. Miami's Janet Kalaniuvalu posted 13 kills but was limited to a .044 clip. Winning three-straight matches, UNC improves to 6-9 on the season, 3-2 in ACC play while the Hurricanes slide to 7-6, 3-2 in conference.
"This team has stayed committed to the process of getting better and comes every day to work hard at practice," head coach Joe Sagula said. "Our commitment to what we've been doing in practice every day is beginning to show. Early in the season we were up and down. Our leaders have taken charge. We're hitting a good streak right now and building confidence. Even in the losses, we've learned to never put our head down. Even with the start of ACC play, we kept a positive outlook. We knew if we stayed consistent, good things would start happening. This is a good indication of that effort."
Carolina jumped to a 6-0 from the start of the match, forcing Miami to call time early in the match. The Hurricanes responded with a three-point run, but Howard put UNC back on track with a kill. Carolina completed another 3-0 run with a kill by Tontai and two blocks by Austin, Howard and Destiny Cox, creating a 19-10 edge. The Tar Heels secured the set with kills by leaders Austin and Howard, taking the set, 25-14.
A kill by Tontai put Carolina on the board with the first point of the set. Miami fought back on five-point run, cutting UNC's lead to one. Miami tied up the score at 13-13 on a kill by Savannah Vach, but Carolina fought back with back-to-back kills by Austin. Another tie at 21-21 forced Carolina to use its first timeout of the set. Working through seven tie scores, Miami won the set 25-22 with a kill by Kalaniuvalu.
Mirroring the first set, UNC took an early lead, 10-6, as Miami called its first set timeout after a block by Cox and Tontai. Carolina pulled ahead on a series of Miami errors for five-point edge at the media break. The Tar Heels went on a seven-point run thanks to a trio of blocks by Peck, Harrison and Tontai before a kill by Kennendy Price put the Canes on the board. Carolina wrapped up the set with a kill by Austin for a 2-1 advantage with the 25-15 set score.
Similar to the second set, Miami came out with a three-point lead in the fourth frame. However, Carolina fought back with kills by Cox and Austin. Howard delivered back-to-back kills, giving her nine kills for the match. Carolina managed to regain the lead, 8-6, after a Miami error. Battling through 14 tie scores in the set, both teams called time in the last five points of the frame. Service error by Miami tied the score again at 23-all, but a block by Cox and Tontai set up match point. In a fitting ending to UNC's block party night, Cox and Tontai clinched the 25-23 win with UNC's 24th block of the night.
Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Parker Austin (17)
» Assists: Hunter Atherton (30)
» Digs: Mia Fradenburg (20)
» Total Blocks: Skyy Howard (13.0)
Noteworthy
» Tying the third-most blocks by a team in a four-set match this season nationally, the Tar Heels upped their season-best to 24.0 total blocks. – up from 19.5 at NC State on Oct. 2.
» Skyy Howard reset her single-match high to 13.0 total blocks – the most blocks by a Tar Heel this season. Howard was one kill away from her a match-best and first double-double with nine kills.
Up Next
The Tar Heels wrap up their three-match homestand Sunday at noon vs. No. 23 Florida State in Carmichael Arena.
Stay up to date with Carolina Volleyball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Team Stats
UM
NC
Kills
40
51
Errors
29
23
Attempts
127
138
Hitting %
.087
.203
Points
57.0
80.0
Assists
39
46
Aces
4
5
Blocks
13.0
24.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
13
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Players Mentioned
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH/RS
/ Volleyball
L/DS
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
MB/OPP
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