Volleyball Falls in Straight Sets to No. 13 Louisville

Friday, April 2

Coral Gables, Fla.

2 PM

North Carolina

10-7,9-6ACC

Louisville

14-2,12-2ACC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
North Carolina	15	26	18	0
Louisville	25	28	25	3

Photo by: Virginia Tech Athletics

April 2, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

By: Ella Coxe

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Despite a near comeback in the second set, North Carolina dropped a three-set match to ACC Champions, No. 13 Louisville on Friday afternoon in Coral Gables.

Although Carolina kept the set tied at the 6-6 mark, the Cardinals ran away with a 25-15 victory in set one. A back-and-forth second set that included 13 tie scores and four lead changes forced the frame beyond 25, but Louisville outlasted UNC for the 28-26 win. Carolina jumped to a 7-1 lead in the third set, but Louisville clinched the match and the 2020-21 ACC championship, 25-18.

Amanda Phegley and Kaya Merkler had seven kills each for the Tar Heels. Karenna Wurl totaled 11 digs, while Olivia Diaz tallied nine of her own. Annabelle Archer put up 23 assists, and Phegley had five blocks in the match. Louisville's Anna Debeer had 13 kills in the victory.

UNC drops to 10-7 on the season and 9-6 in ACC play. The Cardinals improve to 14-2 overall, and 12-2 in conference play. Up next, the Tar Heels face Miami at 1 p.m. Saturday.

How It Happened
Carolina and Louisville each had two long rallies to start the match, and a kill from Aristea Tontai earned UNC its first point. A block from Phegley and Parker Austin before an ace by Austin brought the Tar Heels within two of Louisville early in the set. Another Phegley-Austin block and a kill by Austin gave the Tar Heels some momentum. However, Louisville proved their No. 13 ranking to end the set on a four-point run, 25-15.

The Tar Heels and the Cardinals traded the first 10 points of the second set, highlighted by a kill from Emily Zinger and block by Phegley and Archer. A kill by Merkler ended Louisville's three-point run before Carolina responded with the same to bring the Tar Heels within one of Louisville. Aces by Wurl and Archer and a kill by Merkler gave the Tar Heels a 17-16 lead. An Aziah Buckner kill and a block from Phegley and Zinger extended the UNC lead to two, before a 4-0 Louisville run allowed the Cardinals to retake the lead. Louisville errors and an ace by Buckner knotted the score at 23. Kills by Phegley and Tontai extended the set, but Louisville strung together two points to clinch the second set, 28-26.

Carolina jumped to a 7-1 lead to begin the third set, featuring kills by Tontai, Merkler and Zinger. A block from Tontai and Buckner continued the momentum in UNC's favor as Louisville called for an unsuccessful challenge. A 3-0 run began shifting the momentum to the Cardinals, as they came back to tie the game at 12. Louisville built on a 7-1 run before a block by Tontai and Zinger ended the run. Although Carolina managed three blocks in the set, the Cardinals clinched the 25-18 win for the ACC Championship.

Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Amanda Phegley (7), Kaya Merkler (7)
» Assists: Annabelle Archer (23)
» Blocks: Amanda Phegley (5), Aristea Tontai (4)
» Digs: Karenna Wurl (11)

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