University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Purdue
Tar Heels Fall In Upset Bid Of #17 Purdue
September 1, 2007 | Volleyball
Sept. 1, 2007
West Lafayette, Ind. - The North Carolina volleyball team was within one game of claiming an upset over #17 Purdue at the Mortar Board Premier in West Lafayette, Ind. on Saturday as the Tar Heels held a 2-1 lead over the host Boilermakers before Purdue answered by taking the final two games for the 3-2 win. UNC will take on Dayton at 5 p.m. to wrap up the Mortar Board Premier.
Games one and two were back and forth affairs as each team was able to claim a 30-28 victory. Purdue took game one by the two-point margin as neither team could pull away. The score was tied 15 times, including at 25-25, 26-26, 27-27 and 28-28 before Purdue tallied the final two points for the win. UNC picked up 15 kills in the game to go along with five blocks but were unable to take the opening game.
Game two was a different story as Purdue took an early lead and the Tar Heels had to battle their way back. UNC was down five points at 22-17 when Lauren Prussing tallied back-to-back kills and combined with Heather Brooks to pick up a block and cut the deficit to two (22-20). The Tar Heels were able to even the score at 23-23 before outscoring Purdue 7-5 to close out the match. Stephanie Jansma tallied a kill for the final point as Carolina evened the match at 1-1.
Carolina opened a large lead in game three jumping out to a 17-9 advantage and never looked back claiming a 30-25 game three victory. The Tar Heels never trailed in the game but held off a late charge by Purdue. UNC posted a .261 hitting percentage in the game to take the lead two games to one.
UNC looked to close out the match in game four in another tightly contested game. Sue Haydel put the Tar Heels ahead 21-19 with a kill before Purdue went on a roll outscoring UNC 11-4 at the end of the match. The 30-25 win evened the match at 2-2 forcing a decisive game five, the first of the yaer for the Tar Heels.
The Tar Heels hit .067 in game five, their lowest of the match, and could never overcome an early deficit as Purdue captured game five 15-7 and the match 3-2. The Boilermakers hit .476 in the fifth and final game for the win.
Four different Tar Heels reached double-figures in kills in the game led by Sue Haydel with 14. Christine Vaughen added in 13, while Courtney Johnston and Lauren Prussing chipped in 12 apiece. Heather Brooks came within three block assists of tying the UNC single-match record of 14. Brooks tallied 12 blocks in the match with 11 assisted and a solo.
Stephanie Jansma eclipsed the 50 assist mark for the first time in 2007 with an even 50 in addition to 11 digs. Brianna Eskola led the Tar Heels in digs for the fifth consecutive match picking up 29 in the deafeat.
Carolina will look to end the weekend on a positive note at 5 p.m. on Saturday when it takes on Dayton.
