University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Seniors Rally Heels Past Hokies 3-2
November 8, 2009 | Volleyball
Nov. 8, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Virginia Tech 3-2 Sunday with set scores 18-25, 25-23, 18-25, 25-20 and 15-10. Carolina improves to 14-12 overall and 10-5 in league play, while Virginia Tech falls to 17-8 overall and 7-8 in the ACC. Carolina celebrated the careers of four seniors - Heather Brooks, Megan Owens, Branagan Fuller and Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland with a 3-2 victory over the Hokies.
Team captains Heather Brooks and Megan Owens each turned in big performances to lead Carolina. Owens notched a season-high 13 kills and eight digs en route to a match-high .444 hitting percentage. Brooks added seven blocks, including four in the final frame, to help the Tar Heels overcome the Hokies.
Freshman Emily McGee notched 17 kills, while seniors Branagan Fuller and Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland combined for 14 kills to supplement the Carolina attack. Cora Harms notched 44 assists and 19 digs route to her fourth straight double-double. Kaylie Gibson added 17 digs to pace the Carolina defense.
The Hokies registered 15.5 blocks behind Felicia Willoughby's 12 block assists. Their attack featured three players in double-digit kills led by Justine Record's 17 attacks.
Carolina got off to a slow start Sunday dropping set one 25-18 after rendering a .025 hitting percentage. Carolina trailed by as many as eight, but gained a little momentum towards the end of the frame. Hanson-Tuntland notched three of her eight kills in the first frame, but the Hokies proved to be too much as Justine Record posted a .538 hitting percentage and seven kills.
The second set featured 16 tie scores and 10 lead changes before Carolina finally took the set 25-23. Emily McGee and Branagan Fuller combined for 11 kills in the second frame, while the Tar Heels posted a .227 clip in the set. The match was neck and neck the entire way before the Tar Heels won the final two points behind Cayla Shortley's serves.
The story of the third set was Virginia Tech's .400 hitting percentage behind only two attack errors and 14 kills. The Hokies also added 6.5 blocks limiting Carolina to only a .114 hitting percentage. Megan Owens really hit her stride in the third frame notching five kills and zero attack errors. The score was knotted at 14, but a 11-4 Hokie run allowed Virginia Tech to command a 2-1 lead headed to the fourth set.
Carolina led almost the entire fourth set and uncorked their biggest lead of the match at 21-12. Suzanne Haydel again added important play off the bench registering five kills and zero attack errors in the fourth. Setter Cora Harms nearly achieved a double-double in the fourth frame alone, posting 11 assists and eight digs. Owens continued to get back into the swing of things adding four kills as Carolina tied the match winning the frame 25-20.
Heather Brooks set the tone in the fifth and final set recording four block assists as Carolina limited talented outside hitter Justine Record to a -.125 hitting percentage. Everything was working for Owens after recording a behind the back kill in the last set. Virginia Tech inched close to 13-10 but a savvy Harms kill and Shortley ace sealed the Carolina win 3-2.
Carolina will finish their final five games on the road starting next weekend at Maryland Friday and Boston College Saturday. Head Coach Joe Sagula is closing in on his 600th victory, standing only two wins away at 598 career victories. The Tar Heels have now won three games in a row and will look to extend their streak next week.
