Volleyball Drops Four-Set Match At No. 10 Pitt

Friday, September 23

Pittsburgh, Pa.

7 p.m.

North Carolina

8-4,0-1ACC

Pitt

10-2,1-0ACC

North Carolina

Pittsburgh

Photo by: Pitt Athletics

September 23, 2022 | Volleyball

Box Score

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Carolina volleyball team (8-4, 0-1 ACC) fell in four sets to the No. 10 Pitt Panthers (10-2, 1-0 ACC) on Friday evening in the Fitzgerald Field House. Despite being out-hit .203-.163, the Tar Heels out-blocked the Panthers 13 to 4 on the night, led by junior Kaya Merker who tallied seven block assists, matching her career-best.

Sophomore Mabrey Shaffmaster led the Tar Heels on offense, tallying a match-best 14 kills, 13 digs and three blocks, notching her fourth double-double of the season. Graduate Charley Niego also had her fourth double-double performance of the season with 12 kills and 13 digs to go with a career-best five blocks.

Freshman Maddy May had 12 digs, her eighth straight match with double-digit digs, while senior Parker Austin served a team-best two aces.

Set 1: Carolina: 23, Pitt 25
The Tar Heels jumped out to an early 6-3 lead to open the match, holding onto the lead until it was 16-all midway through. The set was a back-and forth battle, with neither team able to hold onto a lead. Back-to-back points from Carolina tied the set up at 23 all, but the Panthers were able to take the set with back-to-back kills. Shaffmaster led the team with five kills, while she and May each had six digs. The Tar Heels out-hit Pitt .146 to .091 in the frame.

Set 2: Carolina: 17, Pitt 25
The Panthers held onto the lead the entirety of the second set, dominating with an early 7-1 lead. Carolina was out-hit .316 to .053, the Tar Heels' worst attacking set of the match. Niego led the team with four kills on .429 hitting, while Austin and Carson Overbeck each had an ace.

Set 3: Carolina: 25, Pitt: 20
The Tar Heels were a force at the net in the third set, tallying six blocks and limiting Pitt to zero, while hitting a match-best .347. Merkler and senior Skyy Howard each contributed three block assists, while Shaffmaster had five kills. The Tar Heels, who struggled at the service line to open the match, had no service errors in the third set and no reception errors.

Set 4: Carolina: 16, Pitt: 25
The Panthers dominated the final set, outhitting the Tar Heels .314-.069 while serving four aces. Merkler had two block assists and Shaffmaster had three kills to close out the match.

Up Next
Carolina travels to Charlottesville for a 1 p.m. Sunday match at Virginia.

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