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N.C. State Stuns Carolina 3-2
November 25, 2009 | Volleyball
Nov. 25, 2009
RALEIGH, N.C. - N.C. State shocked North Carolina Wednesday afternoon winning the match 3-2 with set scores 25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 25-10 and 14-16. Carolina falls to 15-16 overall and 11-9 in league play, while N.C. State improves to 8-27 overall and 1-19 in league play. The match was marred by sloppy play featuring 23 service errors. The Heels were led by senior Branagan Fuller's 16 kills and Kaylie Gibson's 24 digs.
Carolina got off to a fast start uncorking a 8-2 run to force an N.C. State timeout. The Wolfpack roared back to cut the Tar Heel lead to three at 13-10, but Carolina pushed back in front 17-11 behind a pair of Branagan Fuller kills and a key Megan Owens dig kill. N.C. State battled back to slice the the Carolina lead to 23-21, but the Tar Heels held off the Wolfpack's rally to win the first frame 25-22. Fuller, Emily McGee and Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland combined for 12 of Carolina's 14 kills. The Tar Heels posted a .250 hitting percentage in set one.
N.C. State opened their first lead of the match to the tune of a 3-1 score in the second set. The Tar Heels were plagued by eight service errors early, but battled back to own a 11-10 lead. Carolina continued to hold a narrow lead at 18-16 behind a big Heather Brooks block that forced a Wolfpack timeout. N.C. State eventually knotted the score at 19 and took a lead at 20-19. N.C. State pushed in front 23-21, but a big a set dump courtesy of Erica Behm knotted the 23. The Wolfpack answered with two quick kills to win set two 25-23. Both teams hit at a low percentage in the second frame, with N.C. State leading the way at a .049 clip in a set that featured 10 tie scores and four lead changes.
N.C. State carried their momentum into the third set opening an early 4-2 lead. The Wolfpack continued to apply pressure unleashing an 8-4 lead. N.C. State maintained their lead uncorking an 18-15 score forcing a Carolina timeout. The Wolfpack led by as many as five at 20-15, but the Heels finally got back into the swing of things to cut the lead to one at 21-20. The Wolfpack countered to take the third set 25-22 and hold a 2-1 advantage in the match. Carolina hit at a lowly .024 clip in the third set.
Carolina got a lift off the bench from freshman Heather Henry with three quick kills to push the Tar Heels in front 7-3 early in the fourth. Carolina continued to cruise opening an 12-4 advantage forcing a N.C. State timeout. The Heels finally woke up in the fourth frame to mash the Wolfpack 25-10 and force a decisive fifth set. Henry proved to be the spark off the bench uncorking five kills in set four as Carolina notched a .344 hitting percentage compared to State's -.091 clip.
The Wolfpack opened strong in the fifth set with a 5-1 score forcing a much needed Carolina timeout. N.C. State continued to shock Carolina opening an 9-2 lead. Carolina roared back to knot the score at 14 after a pair of big blocks, but the Wolfpack again answered the punch. N.C. State went on to win the fifth set 16-14 and match 3-2.
