University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Tar Heels Blank Cavaliers 3-0
October 23, 2010 | Volleyball
Oct. 23, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Sophomores Cora Harms and Emily McGee posted double-double efforts to lead North Carolina over Virginia 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 25-22) Saturday night at Carmichael Arena. Kaylie Gibson added 14 digs to improve the Tar Heels to 18-6 overall and 9-2 in the ACC.
McGee uncorked her third straight double-double with a team-high 13 kills and 11 digs. Harms notched her team-leading 11th double-double of the season, earning 17 assists and reeling in team-best 15 digs.
Freshman Kayla Berringer and senior Courtney Johnston posted nine kills apiece. Suzanne Haydel continued steady play with four kills, nine digs and four blocks. Shelbey Bleke added seven blocks brining her weekend total to 14.
"The ACC is a tough league and it is a huge accomplishment for our team to win back-to-back matches in this fashion," exclaimed head coach Joe Sagula. "I am proud of this group and we need to carry this momentum forward into the last half of the season."
oth teams struggled offensively in the first set, but the Tar Heels used a 7-3 run to win set one 25-23. Bleke kept Carolina afloat early with six block assists and three kills in set one. UNC limited the Cavaliers to just a -.050 hitting percentage in set one forcing 13 attack errors. McGee added three kills early as Carolina owned a 1-0 match lead.
The Tar Heels never trailed to claim set two 25-22 and push ahead 2-0 in the match. McGee mashed seven kills and reeled in seven digs to anchor Carolina in the second. Berringer provided a huge boost off the bench, belting five kills to zero attack errors. Virginia sliced the Carolina lead to two late in the frame, but a Johnston kill and Cavalier handling error gave UNC the set win.
oth squads turned in their best efforts of the night offensively in the third frame that featured 17 tie scores and six lead changes. Johnston registered seven of the Tar Heels 16 kills in the third, as UNC cranked a .341 hitting percentage. Carolina finished the frame on a 7-4 run behind Haydel and Berringer's offense to win the set 25-22 and match 3-0.
Carolina improves to 11-1 in Carmichael Arena in 2010. The 11 wins are the most at home since Carolina won 12 in 2008. The 9-2 start to league play is the Tar Heels' best start in the ACC since an identical mark in 2005.
The Tar Heels return to action next weekend traveling to Boston College Friday and Maryland Sunday.
