Tar Heels Earn Comeback Win at Duke, 3-1

Thursday, November 7

Durham, N.C.

6:30 PM

North Carolina

12-11,9-4ACC

Duke

10-15,4-9ACC

North Carolina

Duke

November 7, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – Despite dropping the first set, North Carolina stormed back for the 3-1 win over Duke on Thursday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium. With tonight's win and last season's at Duke, UNC earned back-to-back wins at Cameron Indoor for the first time since 2003 and 2004.

"There were times tonight when it wasn't always pretty," head coach Joe Sagula said, "but we grinded out points. Duke played really well. They were scrappy as I expected them to play. … For us, to be able to sustain the momentum of the season and getting a win was so important in building confidence. I was really proud of our team hanging in there. Obviously that second set was a difference maker. … Being able to finish was really important. We played more poised. It was an inspiring win."

After dropping the first set with led by Ade Owokoniran's five errorless kills, the Tar Heels responded to win the following three sets thanks to Carolina's back row, posting 77 digs spread among Karenna Wurl, Hunter Atherton, Parker Austin and Greer Moseman each with double-digit digs. Offensively, Lauren Harrison, Destiny Cox and Austin tallied double-digit kills with 19, 11 and 10, respectively. Austin (10 kills, 11 digs) and Atherton (43 assists, 13 digs). Atherton also posted four kills on the night.

The Tar Heels' 77 digs were the most since UNC had 85 vs. UCLA on Dec. 9, 2016. It was the most in an ACC match for Carolina since Oct. 14, 2016 vs. Notre Dame with 107 digs. Carolina improves to 12-11, 9-4 in the ACC while Duke slides to 11-15, 4-9 in conference play. The Blue Devils' balanced their offense between Samantha Amos and Gracie Johnson each with double-figure kills while three also posted double-digit digs.

How It Happened
Setting the tone early, Duke earned the first four points of the match before a three-point Carolina run brought it within one. However, the Blue Devils continued, Carolina to use its first timeout with a 17-12 Duke edge. Harrison, Cox, and Aristea Tontai posted a triple block to bring UNC within four, down 17-21. A four-point run featuring two Harrison kills cut the margin to one, 20-21. Despite Cox's second kill pushing the Tar Heels through one set point, Duke took the opening frame, 25-22.

The Tar Heels answered back in set two, jumping to an early lead as Austin's fourth kill of the night sparked a Duke timeout with UNC leading 12-8. Carolina maintained its edge throughout the set thanks to a Harrison-Howard block and three kills from Skylar Wine off the bench. However a Duke block tied up the match at 21-21 before Tontai regained the lead for Carolina. Battling through four tie scores late in the frame, Harrison's 12th kill set up set-point for the Tar Heels before a Duke error clinched the set, 26-24.

Building on UNC's second-set win, Wurl put the first point on the board in the third with an ace. Despite an early edge, Duke battled back to take a two-point lead as Carolina called time at the 10-8 mark. Reentering the match, Austin made several defensive plays to give the Tar Heels crucial momentum late in the set. The outside hitter kept a play alive by diving over the press table before returning to the court for a dig to help earn the point for Carolina. The Tar Heels momentum continued thanks to the back row, including an ace from Moseman, as UNC took a 2-1 lead with a 25-18 third set win.

Continuing into the fourth set, back-to-back aces for Austin gave the Tar Heels a five-point edge, 11-6. Featuring two kills from Harrison and a pair of aces by Austin, Carolina went on an 7-1 run early in the set. Her second consecutive double-digit kill match, Cox's 10th kill of the night extended UNC's lead to 17-12. A successful Duke challenge at the 22-19 mark gave the Blue Devils some momentum as they went on a three-point run to bring the match within two, forcing a Carolina timeout. However, the Tar Heels came out of the break ready to battle, finishing the match on a 3-0 run for the 25-20 set four win and 3-1 match victory.

Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Lauren Harrison (19)
» Assists: Hunter Atherton (43)
» Digs: Karenna Wurl (22)
» Total Blocks: Skyy Howard (5)

Noteworthy
» The Tar Heels' 77 digs were the most since UNC had 85 vs. UCLA on Dec. 9, 2016. It was the most in an ACC match for Carolina since Oct. 14, 2016 vs. Notre Dame with 107 digs.
» With tonight's win and last season's at Duke, UNC earned back-to-back wins at Cameron Indoor for the first time since 2003 & 2004.
» Karenna Wurl set a career high with 22 digs.
» Destiny Cox posted back-to-back double-digit kill matches.
» Both Parker Austin and Hunter Atherton had double-doubles.

Up Next
Carolina travels to Winston-Salem, N.C. Sunday for a 1 p.m. matchup at Wake Forest.

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