University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Tar Heels Swept At Virginia
October 14, 2007 | Volleyball
Oct. 14, 2007
Charlottesville, Va. - The North Carolina volleyball team found itself in an early hole at Virginia on Sunday as was never able to climb out as the Tar Heels fell 3-0 (15-30, 24-30, 28-30). Carolina was led by Heather Brooks who tallied four kills and seven blocks in the match. The sweep was the first against the Tar Heels this season.
Carolina came out flat in game one and was put in an early hole that the Tar Heels could not climb out of the rest of day. Virginia took game one by a commanding 30-15 score as the Cavaliers hit .395 to Carolina's .114. The Tar Heels picked up the first point of the day on a kill from Heather Brooks but it would be the last lead Carolina would have in the opening game. The Cavaliers would respond by outscoring Carolina 17-9 over the next stretch to take a commanding lead that it would not relinquish. Another run by Virginia, the 13-6 variety, diminished any hopes the Tar Heels would come back in the opening game.
The Tar Heels were put in a similar situation in game two as Virginia's Tara Hester went on a roll picking up three kills in four Virginia points as UVa took an 11-5 lead before a timeout from the Tar Heels. Carolina would pull within four at 14-10 on a kill from Noelle Dyk who has been inserted into the rotation the last couple of matches. The four-point deficit would be as close as Carolina would get in game two before Virginia sealed the deal with a 30-24 win.
Carolina switched things up coming into the third game as head coach Joe Sagula was looking for a spark to lift his team. Kelly Davies made an appearance in the starting lineup alongside a new libero in Ashley Board. Things went well for the Tar Heels in the beginning as they were able to secure a 7-6 advantage, but Virginia would pull away once again to a seven-point lead at 24-17. The Tar Heels would not quit, however, as they battled back to within two points at 28-26 forcing the Cavaliers to call a timeout. A kill by the hot hitting Christine Vaughen made the contest 28-27 before back-to-back kills by Virginia ended the game at 30-28 and the match at 3-0.
The 3-0 defeat was the first of the year for the Tar Heels who consistently have battled their way back into matches if they were behind. The opening game loss was the first in the last four matches for Carolina. The Tar Heels picked up 11 total blocks in the match but hit .139. Setter Stephanie Jansma eclipsed the 2,500 assist mark for her career in game one and now has 2,521 after her 30 in Sunday's match.
The Tar Heels will return to action on Friday when they host Florida State at 7 p.m. in a match slated to be broadcast on ACC Select.
