Carolina Falls in Five Sets at Miami

Friday, October 1

Coral Gables, Fla.

8 PM

North Carolina

11-3,0-3ACC

Miami

11-2,2-1ACC

North Carolina

Miami (FL)

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

October 2, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Despite recording a season-best 70 kills, the Carolina volleyball team fell to Miami in a five-set heartbreaker inside Knight Gym on Friday night.

The Tar Heels fell behind early, losing the first two sets, before rallying back to take sets three and four. Despite a gritty fifth set, which featured six tie scores, the Hurricanes clinched the match with 15-12 victory.

For the second time this season, Nia Parker-Robinson (24) and Mabrey Shaffmaster (21) each had more than 20 kills in a match, while Emily Zinger was the third Tar Heel in double-digits with 13 kills. In her second straight start at libero, Olivia Diaz had a career night with 23 digs, 10 assists and two service aces.

Meghan Neelon (30) and Annabelle Archer (23) combined for 53 assists, while Amanda Phegley and Zinger each contributed three blocks each. As a team, the Heels had a .195 attacking clip compared to Miami's .201.

How it Happened (27-29, 20-25, 25-18, 25-20, 12-15)
Despite getting behind 5-1 early, Carolina was able to get back into set one behind a combined 11 kills from Parker-Robinson and Shaffmaster. The set was a battle that included 11 tie scores and four lead changes. The Tar Heels were able to get to set point at 25-24 with a Miami attack error, but the Hurricanes were successfully able to stave off three Carolina set points, eventually taking the set 29-27.

Carolina had its worst attacking set of the night in set two, hitting at a .032 clip. It was a close battle from the beginning of the set, with each team trading points until it was 19 all. That's when Miami went on a 6-1 run to take the 25-20 victory. Parker-Robinson and Zinger each had four kills in the set.

The Heels fought back in set three, jumping out to an early 6-3 lead. Despite Miami getting the lead back within one, the Heels got separation in the middle of the set, pulling away to make it 19-12. Back-to-back kills from Zinger and Shaffmaster, followed by a bad set from Miami, gave the Tar Heels a 25-18 set victory. The Heels combined for 17 kills, with Neelon leading Carolina with eight assists.

Set four was another set that was fought hard on both sides, with neither team able to hold on to the lead. Carolina took control midway through the set when it was 14 all, holding onto the lead for the rest of the set. Shaffmaster had a team-best eight kills in set four, followed by Parker-Robinson with six. Diaz had back-to-back service aces in the set.

Even with four kills from Parker-Robinson in set five, Miami was able to take the match behind a.273 attacking percentage, their best of the match.

The Heels will finish their trip to the Sunshine State on Sunday when they visit Florida State for a 1 p.m. match on ACCNX.