Volleyball Defeats Virginia, 3-1, to Conclude Fall Season

Sunday, November 1

Chapel Hill, N.C.

4 PM

North Carolina

6-2,6-2ACC

Virginia

1-8,0-8ACC

Virginia

North Carolina

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

November 1, 2020 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

CHAPEL HILL – Wrapping up the 2020 season on a four-match winning streak, North Carolina topped Virginia in four sets for the second time in as many days on Sunday evening in Carmichael Arena.

The Tar Heels picked up where they left off Saturday, attacking at a .400 clip in the first set en route to the 25-20 victory. Virginia responded with a 25-22 set two win to even the match at one set apiece. Both teams battled through five tie scores and three lead changes in set three before a six-point UNC run gave the Tar Heels the advantage they would need for a 25-17 win. The Cavaliers opened the fourth set with a 7-2 edge, but another six point run with bring Carolina back in it. Following unsuccessful challenges by both teams, Carly Peck clinched the win for the Tar Heels with back-to-back kills from Annabelle Archer for the 25-23 win and four-set victory.

Outside hitters Peck and Aziah Buckner led the charge with 16 and 14 kills, respectively. Destiny Cox tacked on 10 kills while Kaya Merkler tallied six error-less kills on nine swings for a .667 attack percentage. Middles Skyy Howard and Amanda Phegley registered five blocks each en route to Carolina's 9.0 total blocks. Karenna Wurl led the Tar Heels with a team-best of three aces while picking up 19 digs. Setters Archer and Maylen Mitrovich tacked on two apiece.

The Cavaliers balanced their offense between Christine Jarman, Sarah Billiard and Milla Ciprian each with double-digit kills.

Sharing the top spot of the ACC region, Carolina improves to 6-2 (overall/ACC) while Virginia sits at 1-8, 0-8 in conference play. The Tar Heels resume the 2020-21 season the spring, beginning in January through April with the NCAA selection show on April 4.

How It Happened
Building on Saturday's four-set win, the Tar Heels set the tone early with a kill by Howard and the first of Wurl's three aces. Although UVA brought the score within one thanks to seven total kills by Jarman in the frame, Peck clinched UNC's 15th point on a kill from Mitrovich. Virginia called its second timeout following a pair of miscues as UNC led 20-16. Carolina used its first timeout late in the set following back-to-back kills by the Cavaliers before capitalizing on UVA miscues for the 25-20 win.

Looking to bounce back, the Cavaliers worked through eight tie scores and five lead changes to earn the 25-20 win. Howard and Merkler formed a block for a two-point lead before Buckner gave UNC the 15-13 advantage heading into the media timeout. However, Virginia's adjustments proved successful with a three-point run after the break. The Tar Heels used their first timeout late in the set, tied at 22-22. The Cavaliers closed out the set on a five-point run for the 25-22 victory to knot the match at 1-1.

Coming off the bench, Sydney Reed earned UNC's fifth ace of the night for an early two-point edge in set three. With Carolina on a 4-1 run, the Cavaliers used a timeout at the 11-7 mark. However, the Tar Heels continued with a six-point run that featured two aces by Mitrovich. Wurl posted UNC's fourth ace of the third set as the Cavaliers called timed at the 23-14 mark. Although the Hoos prevailed through one set point, a Virginia miscue earned the Tar Heels the 25-17 win.

The Cavaliers responded by jumping to a 7-2 lead as UNC called time early in the fourth set. However back-to-back kills by Buckner rallied Carolina to bring the score within one, down 8-9.
Peck's 14th kill of the night sparked a 6-1 run as a block by Howard and Phegley knotted the frame at 17-all. With the set tied seven times late in the set, both teams used their challenges to fight for every point although they were unsuccessful. With the score tied at 23-23, back-to-back kills by Peck from Archer clinched the 25-23 win for the four-set victory.

Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Carly Peck (16)
» Hitting percentage: Kaya Merkler (.667, 6 kills), Carly Peck (.367, 16 kills)
» Assists: Annabelle Archer (25)
» Blocks: Skyy Howard (5), Amanda Phegley (5)
» Digs: Karenna Wurl (19)
» Aces: Karenna Wurl (3)

Notable
» Nine aces is a season-best for UNC.
» Carly Peck set a career high with 16 kills.

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