UNC Drops ACC Opener at Notre Dame

Friday, September 27

South Bend, Ind.

7 PM

North Carolina

3-8

Notre Dame

8-3

North Carolina

Notre Dame

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

September 27, 2019 | Volleyball

Box Score

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Carolina battled through 30 tie scores and 11 lead changes, however the Tar Heels were unable to overcome Notre Dame in the Purcell Pavilion, falling in straight sets in front of a 1,427 crowd for ND's alumni weekend.

UNC out-dug the Irish, 52-49 led by a match-best, 19 digs from Mia Fradenburg. Lauren Harrison guided Carolina's attack with 13 kills on a .455 clip while Carly Peck tripled her single-match best to six blocks. The Irish balanced its attack between Charley Niego and Sydney Bent who tallied 13 kills apiece. Notre Dame goes 1-0 in the ACC for an 8-3 overall record while Carolina slides to 3-8.

Jumping on the board early, Hunter Atherton set Skyy Howard for her first kill of the match to maintain Carolina's lead at the 7-6 mark. Trailing by two at the media timeout, the Tar Heels rallied to tie it up at 15 with an Irish ball handling error and Peck kill. Back-to-back kills by Harrison extended Carolina's lead to 22-19. However, the Irish responded with a four-point run to take a 23-22 advantage. The Tar Heels prevailed through one set point as Harrison record her fifth kill, before Notre Dame took the set, 25-23.

Posting Carolina's first of six blocks in the set, Peck and Howard connected for Carolina's first point of the frame. The Tar Heels posted four blocks to begin the set a including a solo block by Aristea Tontai for a 9-5 edge. A pair of kills by Sydney Bent and Carolina Meuth knotted the set at 12-12. Carolina fought through three tie scores before going on a five-point run with a pair of kills by Parker Austin from Atherton for a 21-16 lead. Going on a 7-1 run, Notre Dame battled through four set points to tie up the set at 24-24 before taking a 2-0 lead, 26-24.

Much like the second frame, Peck and Howard teamed up for a block to begin the set. Despite trailing at the media timeout, Carolina responded with back-to-back kills by Harrison to bring the score within one. A kill by Howard and Annabelle Archer's first ace of the night forced a Notre Dame timeout with the score tied at 19-all. Despite a one-point lead at the 20-19 mark, the Irish closed out the set, 25-20 to take the match in three.

Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Lauren Harrison (13)
» Assists: Annabelle Archer (15)
» Digs: Mia Fradenburg (19)
» Total Blocks: Carly Peck (6)
» Attack Pct.: Lauren Harrison (13-3-22, .455)

Up Next
The Tar Heels continue their road trip at Louisville Sunday at 1 p.m. before returning to the Triangle to face the Wolfpack in Raleigh, N.C.

Stay up to date with Carolina Volleyball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.