Volleyball Drops Five-Set Match at VT

Friday, September 25

Blacksburg, Va.

5 PM

North Carolina

1-1,1-1ACC

Virginia Tech

2-1,1-1ACC

North Carolina

Virginia Tech

Photo by: Virginia Tech Athletics

September 25, 2020 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Although the Tar Heels battled back from a two-set deficit, Carolina was unable to complete the reverse sweep, dropping a five set match at Virginia Tech on Friday evening in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Defending their home court, Virginia Tech won the first two sets. Although Carolina responded to take sets three and four, the Hokies bounced back to win the deciding frame and split the series, 1-1. The Tar Heels slide to 1-1 while the Hokies improve to 2-1 on the season, 1-1 in conference. Carolina returns to action on Oct. 9, taking on Virginia at Carmichael Arena.

Sophomore Parker Austin paced Carolina with 17 kills while freshman Aziah Buckner upped her career best to 15. Amanda Phegley and Destiny Cox each tallied a trio of blocks at the net while Niki Khoshatefeh posted UNC's lone solo block in her Tar Heel debut. Kaity Smith led VT's offense with 21 kills while collecting 14 digs. Ashley Homan also had a double-double with 10 kills and 17 digs.

How It Happened
The Hokies set the tone early and jumped to a 6-2 lead. Maylen Mitrovich posted back-to-back aces to cut Carolina's deficit to two at the 8-10 mark. A UNC miscue gave the Hokies the 15-12 edge at the media timeout. Kills by Kaya Merkler, Buckner and Cox paced Carolina to a 4-1 run. However, Virginia Tech ended the frame on a seven point run for the 25-18 decision. VT hit .542 in the first set, while limiting Carolina to a .059 clip.

The Tar Heels and Hokies battled through 13 tie scores and four lead changes throughout the second set. Despite a 15-10 VT lead at the media timeout, Carolina bounced back with a 6-point run, highlighted by a pair of aces by Austin. The Hokies responded with a run of their own to reclaim the lead. Back-to-back kills by Buckner knotted the frame at 20-all. Coming out of the timeout, a kills by Mitrovich and Phegley tied the set at 22-22. Despite tying up the match at 23 and 24, the Hokies earned the 27-25 win for the two-set advantage.

Beginning the third set in a 5-1 offense, Carolina's momentum shifted by taking a 7-4 lead in the set. Mitrovich connected with Merkler for back-to-back kills to build in UNC's favor. Buckner's seventh kill of the night extended UNC's lead to five as Virginia Tech called time. Carolina transitioned to a 6-2 late in the set. A kill by Cox gave Carolina the 24-21 edge as VT called time before Merkler and Cox formed the block for the 25-21 set three win.

Although the Hokies jumped to an early 10-3 lead to begin the fourth set, Carolina settled in and brought the score within three, going on a 5-1 run as VT called time. Austin propelled the Tar Heels, tallying seven error-less kills in the frame as UNC attacked a .333 rate. Coming off the bench, Khoshatefeh posted back-to-back blocks to tie up the set at 18-all. Ryan Shannon posted an ace for a two point edge. A kill by Austin earned the 25-22 win to tie the match at 2-2.

Although Mitrovich connected with Austin for the first kill of the fifth set, the Hokies went on a 5-0 run to take a 7-4 lead. Both Buckner and Phegley tacked on kills in the frame but VT did not waver. Carolina prevailed through one match point with a kill by Cox, but the Hokies earned the 15-10 win for the five set victory.

Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Parker Austin (17), Aziah Buckner (15)
» Hitting percentage: Kaya Merkler (.350, 11 kills)
» Assists: Maylen Mitrovich (35)
» Digs: Karenna Wurl (17)
» Double-doubles: Parker Austin (17 K, 12 D), Maylen Mitrovich (35 A, 10 D)

Notable
» Sophomore Niki Khoshatefeh made her Carolina debut in the fourth set, posting a pair of blocks.
» Parker Austin, Maylen Mitrovich and Ryan Shannon each had two aces.
» UNC out-aced Virginia Tech seven to three.

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