Volleyball Outlasts Virginia, 3-1

Saturday, October 31

Chapel Hill, N.C.

5 PM

North Carolina

5-2,5-2ACC

Virginia

1-7,0-7ACC

Virginia

North Carolina

Photo by: Dana Gentry

October 31, 2020 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

CHAPEL HILL – Highlighted by double-digit kills from Parker Austin, Aziah Buckner and Destiny Cox, Carolina defeated Virginia, 3-1 on Saturday evening in Carmichael Arena.

Although the score remained close to begin the match, Carolina earned the first set 25-20. Hitting .680 as a team, the Tar Heels picked up momentum and cruised to a 25-15 victory in set two, led by nine kills on 10 swings from Austin. Virginia bounced back in the third frame with a 25-23 victory before UNC clinched the four-set win with a 25-20 victory.

The Tar Heels attacked at a season-best .312 clip throughout the match with Skyy Howard's .455 with seven kills leading the charge. Austin matched a career-best with 22 kills while both Buckner and Cox tallied 10 apiece. Annabelle Archer also had a career day with 48 assists while Karenna Wurl grounded the back row with a team-best 14 digs. Both Archer and Buckner recorded double-doubles in the 3-1 victory. Virginia split its offense between Christine Jarman and Sarah Billiard who each recorded 13 kills.

Carolina improves to 5-2 (overall/ACC) while Virginia falls to 1-7, 0-7 in ACC play. The Tar Heels and Hoos wrap up the fall season Sunday at 4 p.m. in Carmichael Arena.

How It Happened
Carolina and Virginia battled point-for-point throughout the set, working through 16 tie scores and six lead changes. A kill by Cox from Archer to the back pin followed by Buckner's third kill of the set propelled UNC to a four-point run to break away at the 19-19 mark as Virginia used its second timeout to quell the momentum. However the Tar Heels' late substation proved successful as a kill by Howard clinched Carolina's 25-20 first set win. Austin led UNC with seven kills in the frame while the Tar Heels hit .320 to begin the match.

The Tar Heels picked up where they left off by taking an early 9-4 lead in set two, hitting 1.000 as Virginia called time. Following three-consecutive kills by Austin from Archer, UVA used its second timeout in an attempt to break up a six-point Carolina run at the 17-8 mark. Although Virginia responded with back-to-back kills by Sarah Billiard, Austin's nine error-less kills in the set paced UNC to a 25-15 win and two-set advantage.

Although UVA took a timeout early, the Hoos responded in set three, limiting Carolina to a .108 attack percentage. Virginia led at the 17-14 mark at UNC called time. An ace by Austin knotted the frame at 19-all. However, the Cavaliers posted back-to-back blocks to reclaim the lead. Amanda Phegley's fifth kill extended the set, but UVA came away with the 25-23 win.

Both teams traded three-point and four-point runs to begin the fourth set. Working through seven tie scores and four lead changes, Carolina broke away at the 17-14 mark with a five-point run, featuring an ace from Austin and a pair of kills from Howard. A block by Carly Peck and Kaya Merkler put UNC within striking distance. The Cavaliers battled through two match-points before Merkler's sixth kill clinched the 25-20 win.

Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Parker Austin (22)
» Hitting percentage: Skyy Howard (.455, 7 kills), Aziah Buckner (.450, 10 kills)
» Assists: Annabelle Archer (48)
» Blocks: Skyy Howard (3), Kaya Merkler (3)
» Digs: Karenna Wurl (14)

Notable
» Both Annabelle Archer and Aziah Buckner recorded double-doubles.
» Annabelle Archer set a career high in assists (48) and Parker Austin tied a career high in kills (22).

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