Volleyball Bests Virginia Tech In Three Sets

Friday, October 18

Blacksburg, Va.

6 P.M.

North Carolina

14-2,6-1ACC

Virginia Tech

7-10,1-6ACC

North Carolina

Virginia Tech

Photo by: ANTHONY SORBELLINI

October 18, 2024 | Volleyball

Box Score

BLACKSBURG, VA. – North Carolina volleyball (14-2, 6-1 ACC) defeated Virginia Tech (7-10, 1-6 ACC) in three sets (28-26, 25-23, 25-21) on Friday in Cassell Coliseum.

The Tar Heels struggled in the first set as they fell behind by six early on, but momentum switched as Carolina went on a 6-0 run to take a 21-20 lead. Virginia Tech stayed with UNC in a nailbiter push at the end of set one with four match points, but the Tar Heels clinched the first set on a 3-0 run. The Tar Heels outhit the Hokies .343 to .250 in the first set, behind Emani Foster, Jackie Taylor, Mabrey Shaffmaster and Alexis Engelbrecht, who all hit .400 or better in the first set.

The second set was another back-and-forth nail biter as the set featured 10 ties and six lead changes, with UNC coming back from a four-point deficit at 21-17 to win. Zoe Behrendt's three service aces and Chelsea Thorpe's streak of kills led the way for the Tar Heels to pull off the set victory, 25-23.

Carolina mounted another comeback in the third set, mounting a 6-0 run after being down, 17-13, with a 6-0 run. UNC closed the door on Virginia Tech with another run at the end of the set. This time it was 4-0

NOTABLES:
• Shaffmaster is one match away from 100 career matches
• Shaffmaster is seven service aces away from passing Laura Greene (1999-02) with 131, ranking seventh
• Taylor Eisert and Behrendt have recorded double-digits assists for three straight matches.
• Engelbrecht recorded her 500th career kill in the first set.

The Tar Heels wrap up their weekend in Virginia at Virginia on Sunday, Oct. 20, at 1 p.m. in Charlottesville, Va.

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