Volleyball Falls In Five Sets to No. 18 Florida State

Saturday, March 27

Pittsburgh, Pa.

1 PM

North Carolina

10-5,9-4ACC

Florida State

10-5,7-5ACC

Team	1	2	3	4	5	Final F
North Carolina	25	12	18	25	9	2
Florida St.	16	25	25	21	15	3

huddle
University of North Carolina Volleyball v Notre Dame
Carmichael Arena
Chapel Hill, NC
Sunday, March 21, 2021

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

March 27, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

CHAPEL HILL – Despite a season-best 12 aces, North Carolina fell to No. 25 Florida State in a five-set heartbreaker on Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh's Fitzgerald Field House.

The Tar Heels jumped to early leads to earn wins both the first and fourth sets while Florida State did the same in sets two and three to force a decisive fifth set. The final set featured five tie scores and three lead changes before the Seminoles clinched the 15-9 win .

Aristea Tontai led UNC with four aces. Kaya Merkler led Carolina with 15 kills, attacking at a .323 clip. Both Skyy Howard and Emily Zinger posted six blocks apiece. Karenna Wurl, Olivia Diaza and Zinger grounded the defense each with double-digit digs. Florida State's Emma Clothier led all hitters with 19 kills.

The Seminoles improve to 11-5 overall, 8-5 in ACC play while UNC falls to 10-5, 9-5 in conference. Up next, Carolina takes on No. 18 Pittsburgh at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

How It Happened
The Tar Heels jumped to a commanding 10-3 lead with three aces in the first eight points to force a Florida State timeout. Carolina maintained the lead with a Tontai-Zinger block at the 14-10 mark. The Seminoles used their second following one of Merkler's five kills in the set. Both Zinger and Wurl had four digs apiece in the frame, limiting the Seminoles to a .000 hitting percentage in the 25-16 set one win.

Florida State bounced back to take a 7-0 lead out of the gate to begin the second set before a kill by Howard put UNC on the board. Carolina managed a pair of aces as the Seminoles called time at the 19-9 mark. However, Florida State continued on to a 25-12 win, highlighted by six kills by Jasmyn Martin.

Mirroring the second set, Florida State took an eight-point lead early in the third frame. Aziah Buckner and Howard stuffed the Seminoles' attack to cut the deficit to seven. Carolina managed a 7-1 run late in the frame with blocks by Buckner, Howard and Zinger as Florida State called time. A kill by Howard followed by a Howard-Zinger block pushed UNC through two set points, but the Seminoles managed the 25-18 win to take a 2-1 advantage.

Carolina fought back in the third set, jumping to an 11-5 lead as the Seminoles called time. The Tar Heels went on a four-point run with back-to-back aces by Buckner. Although Florida State rallied through three set points, Merkler clinched the 25-21 win with her 14th kill of the match to force a fifth set.

Carolina and Florida State battled point-for-point working through five tie scores and three lead changes by the 8-8 mark. An FSU block and Carolina miscue gave the Seminoles a two-point lead to build momentum. Despite a UNC challenge, Florida State clinched the match on a 5-1 run for the 15-9 set five decision.

Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Kaya Merkler (16)
» Hitting percentage: Kaya Merkler (.323, 15 kills on 31 attempts)
» Assists: Annabelle Archer (40)
» Blocks: Emily Zinger (6), Skyy Howard (6)
» Digs: Karenna Wurl (14)
» Aces: Aristea Tontai (4)

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