University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Carolina Cruises To Fifth Straight Sweep
November 10, 2007 | Volleyball
Nov. 10, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina volleyball team has now won 15 consecutive games and five straight matches dating back to its heartbreaking 3-2 loss at Georgia Tech with its 3-0 sweep over visiting Virginia Tech (13-15, 7-11 ACC) on Saturday. Carolina improves to 14-13 overall and 10-8 in the Atlantic Coast Conference with the 32-30, 30-20, 30-21 win in the final home contest of the season. Lauren Prussing and Megan Owens led the way with 15 and 13 kills to lead the Tar Heels to victory. Carolina will travel to Wake Forest on Wednesday for a midweek ACC tilt.
Carolina won a hard fought opening game by a 32-30 margin on the back of a combined 17 kills from a trio of Tar Heels. Owens led the way with seven, while Bekah Brinkley and Lauren Prussing each chipped in five. The Tar Heels led by four late in the game at 25-21 before the Hokies stormed back with four consecutive points to even the game at 25-25. Neither team would hold more than a two-point lead the rest of the way as Carolina was the first to have an attempt to put the match away when it led 29-28. A kill by Betsy Horowitz evened the score before a kill from Megan Owens put the Tar Heels back in front. Another Hokie kill tied the game at 30-30 before Owens and Brinkley delivered back-to-back kills to give Carolina the 32-30 victory.
The momentum clearly did not carry over into game two as both teams started out very sluggish. Virginia Tech took a 4-1 lead which prompted Joe Sagula to call a timeout and refocus his team. The break did not seem to help either team as the Hokies held the three-point advantage through an 11-8 lead.
The Tar Heels answered the call, however, by going on an 18-2 run as the duo of Brianna Eskola and Ashley Board served 18 of 19 points and an array of Tar Heels picked up kills. Virginia Tech attempted to battle back going on a 6-0 run but it was too little too late as Carolina cruised to the 2-0 lead with the 30-20 win.
Game three saw the momentum that the Tar Heels have had the last few weeks carry over into the third and final game. Carolina took game three 30-21 as it trailed just once, at 1-0. The Tar Heel defense held the Hokies to a -.018 hitting percentage in the third game as they turned away five shots. Prussing delivered six kills in the win, while committing just one error.
The sweep was the fifth straight for the Tar Heels which marks the first time since 1999 that the feat has been accomplished. Carolina added to its longest sweep streak over ACC competition as the previous mark was at three in 2004.
Prussing dug 14 balls in the victory for her second straight double-double as she led the way with 15 kills. Carolina swatted away 15 balls on the night with Christine Vaughen combining with others for eight assisted blocks. Seniors Bekah Brinkley, Ashley Board and Christie Clark all saw significant action as it was their last match in Carolina blue before a Carmichael Auditorium crowd.
