Tar Heels Best Duke in Straight Sets

Thursday, November 21

Chapel Hill, N.C.

6:30 PM

North Carolina

15-11, 12-4ACC

Duke

5-1112-17 ACC

Duke

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

November 21, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL – Behind a balanced Carolina offense with four attackers posting eight or more kills, the Tar Heels swept Duke on Thursday night in front of a season-high 2,623 fans in Carmichael Arena to pick up a second win over the Blue Devils this season.

Despite a slow start in the first set, Carolina battled back to earn the three-set victory and improve to 12-4 in ACC play, 15-11 overall. The Blue Devils out-aced UNC, 5 to 4, but could not overcome the Tar Heels' home court advantage, falling to 12-17 on the season, 5-11 in conference.

Lauren Harrison led Carolina's offense with 12 kills while Parker Austin tallied nine and both Carly Peck and Skyy Howard swatted eight apiece. Aristea Tontai highlighted the Tar Heels' presence at the net with seven blocks of the 11.0 team blocks. Mia Fradenburg grounded Carolina's defense with several diving saves, totaling 14 digs and an ace on the night. Carolina limited Duke's season kills leader, Ade Owokoniran, to a mere two kills on the night. Samantha Amos led the Blue Devils with a team-best nine kills.

How It Happened
Duke jumped to an early 6-1 lead that forced UNC to use a timeout early. Coming out of the break, a kill by Howard helped the Tar Heels gain their momentum. UNC tied the frame up four times mid-way through the set, highlighted by an ace by Karenna Wurl to give the Tar Heels a 16-15 edge. A 5-1 run that featured a block by Tontai and Peck sparked a Duke timeout. The Blue Devils quickly used a second timeout following another Tontai-Peck block and service ace by Hunter Atherton. Duke battled back to knot the set at 24-all, but Howard's sixth kill of the frame clinched the set for the Tar Heels, 26-24.

Carolina went on a 5-0 run early in the second set as Duke called time with an 8-3 UNC edge. Another kill and a block by Harrison as well as a Destiny Cox - Tontai block pushed the Blue Devils to another timeout with the Tar Heels leading 13-6. However, the Blue Devils managed to bring the set within one at the 16-17 mark. Kills by Peck, Howard, Harrison and Austin and a service ace by Fradenburg helped the Heels regain their momentum, reaching set point at 24-17. Though the Blue Devils fought through three set-points with kills from Johnson and Lauren Cline, a kill by Peck won the set for the Tar Heels, 25-20, with UNC leading the match, 2-0.

Though Duke scored the first two points of the set, UNC came back with a pair of blocks and kills by Austin, Harrison and Peck. Carolina battled through six tie scores and five lead changes throughout the set, but a 5-1 run with a trio of kill by Harrison gave UNC the late edge. Kills by Howard, Peck, Skylar Wine and Harrison sustained the Tar Heels until an error from Duke led to set point and a Blue Devil timeout, UNC leading 24-19. A kill by Wine from Greer Moseman won the set and the match for the Heels, 25-20 and 3-0.

Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Lauren Harrison (12)
» Hitting percentage: Skyy Howard (.438, 8 kills)
» Assists: Annabelle Archer (15)
» Digs: Mia Fradenburg (14)
» Total Blocks: Aristea Tontai (7)

Noteworthy
» Tonight's sweep was UNC's first over Duke since Oct. 2, 2015.
» Carolina extended its winning streak to a season-best, five matches.

Up Next
The Tar Heels wrap up their home schedule with Senior Day on Wednesday at 2 p.m.

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