Volleyball Earns Road Sweep At NC State

Friday, October 21

Raleigh, N.C.

7 p.m.

North Carolina

12-8,4-5ACC

NC State

11-10,5-5ACC

North Carolina

NC State

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

October 21, 2022 | Volleyball

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina volleyball team earned a road victory at NC State on Friday night, downing the Wolfpack in straight sets in front of a packed crowd at Reynolds Coliseum. It is the Tar Heels' fifth straight victory over NC State.

Mabrey Shaffmaster led the Carolina offense, tallying her eighth double-double of the season, behind a team-best 12 kills on .333 hitting, 13 digs and three service aces.

Skyy Howard had her best offensive performance of the season with eight kills on .333 hitting, four digs and a team-best four blocks.

Kaya Merkler was also an offensive spark for Carolina with nine kills on .438 hitting.

Charley Niego (13 digs) and Maddy May (11 digs) defended the Tar Heels' backcourt, while Anita Babic ran the offense with 27 assists, six digs and two block assists and matched her career-best of six kills.

Carolina (12-8, 4-5 ACC) out-hit the Wolfpack (11-10, 5-5 ACC) .256 to .089 and out-blocked them 7 to 4 in the victory.

The Tar Heels had five different players tally a service ace in the match.

Set One – UNC: 26, NC State: 24
The first set was a tight battle with 10 ties and five lead changes between the two squads. After the Tar Heels jumped out to an early 4-1 lead to open the frame, the Wolfpack tied it up midway through at 13. NC State took control late in the set, going up 22-20. Despite the Tar Heels clawing back and tying it up at 22 all, back-to-back points from the Wolfpack set up set point. Carolina then took the next four points, highlighted by a Skyy Howard solo block to take the set victory.

Set Two – UNC: 25, NC State: 17
Carolina dominated the second set, out-hitting NC State .279 to .047, led by five kills from Kaya Merkler and four kills from both Mabrey Shaffmaster and Howard. Up 20-18 in the set, the Tar Heels tallied five-back-to-back kills to take set two.

Set Three – UNC: 25, NC State: 18
The Tar Heels had their best offensive set in the third, out-hitting the Wolfpack .333 to .182 and never giving up the lead. Shaffmaster tallied a set-best six kills and two service aces, while Liv Mogridge recorded her eighth solo block of the season in the frame.

Up Next:
Carolina travels to Durham on Sunday to take on Duke at 1 p.m. in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

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