Tar Heels Fall to Wake Forest on Senior Day

Wednesday, November 27

Chapel Hill, N.C.

2 PM

North Carolina

15-12, 12-5ACC

Wake Forest

14-15, 4-14ACC

Wake Forest

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

November 27, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHAPEL HILL – Despite an early lead in Carmichael Arena, North Carolina dropped a five-set match to Wake Forest on Senior Day. Carolina won the first and third sets, but was unable to secure the win to close out the regular season at home.

Making their final starts in Carolina Blue, the Tar Heels recognized their seniors prior to the match: Skylar Wine, Greer Moseman, Katharine Esterley and Mia Fradenburg, as well as undergraduate assistant coach Mariah Evans.

"They have meant so much to this program," head coach Joe Sagula said. "They put their hearts and souls into it. They've been through the ups and downs at a high as freshmen, to working through tough times the past two years, to now putting the team back in a good position this year. They've helped us establish ourselves with a winning season and to make a statement in the ACC. They brought the culture back to what Carolina is all about. They mean a lot to me and everyone on this team."

Lauren Harrison led the Tar Heels with a career-high 28 kills while both Destiny Cox and Wine had 11 each. Fradenburg and Moseman grounded UNC's back row with 15 and 12 digs, respectively. However, Wake Forest's Peyton Suess, Caroline Kuhn and Olivia Sanders each had double-digit kills en route to the win. The Demon Deacons improve to 14-15 on the season, 4-14 in conference while UNC falls to 15-12, 11-5 in the ACC.

How It Happened
With Carolina's four graduates in the starting lineup, the Tar Heels jumped to a 6-1 lead featuring kills by Wine and Esterley. Back-to-back blocks by Aristea Tontai and Hunter Atherton extended UNC's edge to 15-7 at the media timeout. A pair of kills by Harrison set UNC up for 6-1 that forced a Wake Forest timeout at the 21-11 mark. Despite a late push by the Demon Deacons, Carolina clinched the first set, 25-15, hitting .519 without an error.

UNC's momentum continued to begin the second set, taking a 7-5 lead as Wake Forest called time early. Despite diving plays by Carolina's back row, the Demon Deacons managed to take an 11-10 lead before a third kill by Cox knotted the set. A five-point run reclaimed the lead for Wake Forest before a service error and kill by Harrison from Annabelle Archer ended the run. Despite five kills by Harrison and four from Cox, Wake Forest evened up the match, 1-1 with a 25-20 decision.

Carolina bounced back to begin the third set, taking an 8-4 lead as Wake Forest used an early timeout. The Tar Heels led by as many as six thanks to two blocks by Tontai, Cox and Wine. However, a 6-2 run by Wake Forest knotted the set at 18-all. With a Fradenburg ace and kills by Harrison and Carly Peck, Carolina responded with a five-point run and finished off the set with a kill by Harrison for the 25-19 decision.

Back-to-back aces by Wine and a kill by Harrison put the Tar Heels ahead early, 8-5. Nearly three-straight kills by Harrison gave UNC a momentum push to take a four-point lead. Tontai dished up her second ace of the match as Wake Forest called time at the 17-11 mark. A four-point run by the Demon Deacons tied the set at 18-18. A second run gave Wake Forest a two-point lead, 23-21. Despite Harrison's 24th kill of the match, the Deacons knotted the match at 2-2 with a 25-22 win.

Wake Forest continued into the fifth set taking a 6-3 lead despite a pair of kills from Harrison who reset her single-match career best. After taking a second timeout, a kill by Wine and tough serving from Moseman brought the Tar Heels within one. However, the Demon Deacons outlasted UNC for the 15-11 win to take the match 3-2.

Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Lauren Harrison (28)
» Hitting percentage: Destiny Cox (.450, 11 kills)
» Assists: Annabelle Archer (29)
» Digs: Mia Fradenburg (15)
» Total Blocks: Aristea Tontai (7)

Noteworthy
» The Tar Heels were error-less until the 9-8 mark in the second set, hitting over .500 until that mark.
» Lauren Harrison recorded her fifth 20+ kill match this season with a career-high 28.

Up Next
The Tar Heels conclude the regular season at Virginia Tech on Friday at 3 p.m.

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