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Carolina Cruises To 3-0 Sweep At NC State
September 14, 2007 | Volleyball
Sept. 14, 2007
Raleigh, N.C. - The North Carolina volleyball team sits at the top of the ACC standings after picking up a 3-0 win at NC State on Friday night. The Tar Heels took control early and never looked back en route to the 30-25, 30-24 and 30-20 wins. The ACC-opening win was UNC's 12th consecutive as it was playing the only ACC match of the weekend.
Carolina opened the match in front of a hostile Wolfpack crowd with a 30-25 game one victory. The Tar Heels were the first to 10 points as Heather Brooks picked up one of her three game one kills to give Carolina a 10-8 advantage. Carolina lengthened its lead to seven late in the match when Christine Vaughen tallied back-to-back kills for the 27-20 lead. The Tar Heels cruised from that point despite a small comeback from NC State to cut the lead to four at 29-25, but the game out was out of reach at that point.
Game two was more of the same for the Tar Heels as they claimed an early lead and never looked back for the 30-24 win. Lauren Prussing, Sue Haydel and Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland each picked up four kills apiece in game two as the Tar Heels never trailed. The Wolfpack made it a bit more interesting late in game two cutting a Carolina lead that was as high as seven down to two (26-24). NC State committed a service error and Brooks added to her kill total to give Carolina a four point lead before a Wolfpack timeout. After the break the Tar Heels continued on their four consecutive points to close out the game.
Carolina wrapped up its first sweep since the opening weekend over Stony Brook in game three with a dominating 30-20 victory. Midway through game three it appeared that NC State may be able to steal a game from the Tar Heels as the teams were locked at 13-13. A six point run for Carolina was the difference as the Tar Heels took a 19-13 lead and insured the sweep.
Sue Haydel led the attack for the Tar Heels with a team-high 10 kills. Prussing finished right at her heels with nine and was followed by Brooks, Vaughen and Hanson-Tuntland who all chipped in eight kills. Setter Stephanie Jansma doled out 37 assists in the match and libero Brianna Eskola fell four digs shy of 30 with 26 on the night.
Carolina will host Georgia Tech and Clemson on Friday, Sept. 21 and Saturday, Sept. 22 in Carmichael Auditorium as the Tar Heels will look to hold onto the top spot in the ACC.
