University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Downs Carolina 3-1
October 30, 2009 | Volleyball
Oct. 30, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina volleyball team dropped its second straight match Friday losing to Georgia Tech with set scores 25-19, 20-25, 22-25 and 18-25. The Tar Heels fall to 11-11 overall and 7-4 in the ACC as the Yellow Jackets improve to 15-7 and 9-3 in the ACC. The Yellow Jackets improved each set as the Tar Heels only won set one. Branagan Fuller led the Heels with 18 kills, earning a new Carolina career high. Middles Heather Brooks and Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland each posted 11 kills, while Cora Harms led the team with 12 digs. The Yellow Jackets posted 15 blocks compared to the Heels six.
In the opening set Carolina started in strong fashion with a 9-5 lead forcing a Georgia Tech timeout. Georgia Tech battled back to knot the score at 18, but the Heels responded with a 7-1 run to take set one 25-19. Neither team posted high hitting percentages, Carolina led the way with .027 clip compared to the Yellow Jackets -.111 percentage. Branagan Fuller continued her strong play with eight of the Tar Heels 13 kills in the first set.
The second set was neck and neck until Georgia Tech pushed in front 14-10 forcing a Carolina timeout. The Yellow Jackets continued to apply pressure uncorking their biggest lead of the match at 18-11 forcing yet another Tar Heel timeout. Carolina fought back to slice the Georgia Tech lead to as few as three, but the Jackets claimed set two 25-20. The Yellow Jackets hit .462 in the second frame while posting a 75% sideout percentage.
Georgia Tech carried their momentum into the third set opening a quick 9-6 lead. The Tar Heels used two timeouts early to stop the Yellow Jackets' run as the score stood at 13-7. The Tar Heels rallied from behind the entire frame, inching as close at three but the Yellow Jackets proved to be too much winning the set 25-22. The Yellow Jackets posted a .282 hitting percentage and already registered 13 blocks through three sets.
The Yellow Jackets continued to look better each set opening the fourth frame with a 14-7 lead. Georgia Tech stretched their lead to 20-12 and eventually took the set 25-18 and match 3-1. The Yellow Jackets posted a .256 hitting percentage for the match after posting a negative -.111 clip.
Carolina is now 28-22 all-time against Georgia Tech. The Heels dropped their first match against the Jackets 3-0 Sept. 25 in Atlanta. Carolina will have a quick turn around hosting Clemson at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow.
