University of North Carolina Athletics

Volleyball Falls To Tennessee In First Round Of NCAA Tournament
December 3, 2021 | Volleyball
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Carolina volleyball team fell in four sets to Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament on Friday night. The Tar Heels finished the 2021 season 21-9 and 10-8 in ACC play.
Three Tar Heels finished the match with double-digit kills, led by Mabrey Shaffmaster (18) followed by Nia Parker-Robinson (14) and Skyy Howard (12). Howard finished with a team-best .706 hitting percentage with no errors in 17 total attempts.
As a team, the Volunteers out-attacked Carolina .263 to .165, with 16 blocks to Carolina's three.
How it Happened
Set 1 - Carolina: 20, Tennessee: 25
Despite being tied up at seven early, the Volunteers took the lead midway through the set, going on a 7-2 run to go up 12-8. Although Carolina brought the score within two, 21-19, Tennessee finished the set on a 3-0 run to go ahead by one.
Set 2 - Carolina: 19, Tennessee 25
Neither team had a great offensive attacking set in the second, with Carolina hitting .109, while Tennessee hit .188. The Tar Heels never led in the set, with Tennessee opening on a 3-0 run. Parker-Robinson had a team-best four kills in the frame.
Set 3 - Carolina: 26, Tennessee: 24
With eight ties and three lead chances, set three proved to be the most competitive set of the match. Despite the Volunteers opening with a 6-3 lead, Carolina fought back to take a 20-18 late in the set. When Tennessee went on a 5-1 run to lead 23-21, two back-to-back Shaffmaster kills and an attack error from the Volunteers set up set point for Carolina. Although Tennessee forced a second set point, a Shaffmaster kill and a Parker Austin ace gave the Tar Heels its first set win of the day.
Set 4 – Carolina: 15, Tennessee: 25
Tennessee out-hit .357 to .053 in set four, with the Volunteers recording 11 total blocks. Parker-Robinson had a team-best four kills in the set.
Stay up to date with Carolina Volleyball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
Three Tar Heels finished the match with double-digit kills, led by Mabrey Shaffmaster (18) followed by Nia Parker-Robinson (14) and Skyy Howard (12). Howard finished with a team-best .706 hitting percentage with no errors in 17 total attempts.
As a team, the Volunteers out-attacked Carolina .263 to .165, with 16 blocks to Carolina's three.
How it Happened
Set 1 - Carolina: 20, Tennessee: 25
Despite being tied up at seven early, the Volunteers took the lead midway through the set, going on a 7-2 run to go up 12-8. Although Carolina brought the score within two, 21-19, Tennessee finished the set on a 3-0 run to go ahead by one.
Set 2 - Carolina: 19, Tennessee 25
Neither team had a great offensive attacking set in the second, with Carolina hitting .109, while Tennessee hit .188. The Tar Heels never led in the set, with Tennessee opening on a 3-0 run. Parker-Robinson had a team-best four kills in the frame.
Set 3 - Carolina: 26, Tennessee: 24
With eight ties and three lead chances, set three proved to be the most competitive set of the match. Despite the Volunteers opening with a 6-3 lead, Carolina fought back to take a 20-18 late in the set. When Tennessee went on a 5-1 run to lead 23-21, two back-to-back Shaffmaster kills and an attack error from the Volunteers set up set point for Carolina. Although Tennessee forced a second set point, a Shaffmaster kill and a Parker Austin ace gave the Tar Heels its first set win of the day.
Set 4 – Carolina: 15, Tennessee: 25
Tennessee out-hit .357 to .053 in set four, with the Volunteers recording 11 total blocks. Parker-Robinson had a team-best four kills in the set.
Stay up to date with Carolina Volleyball by following the Tar Heels on Twitter and Instagram.
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