University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
Tar Heels Topple Terrapins 3-1
October 31, 2010 | Volleyball
Oct. 31, 2010
COLLEGE PARK, MD. -- Senior Suzanne Haydel registered 14 digs and 10 kills to lead North Carolina over Maryland 3-1 (19-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-22) Sunday afternoon at Comcast Center Pavilion. The Tar Heels win their fifth straight to improve to 20-6 overall and an ACC leading 11-2 record. The win marks the 22nd time in school history UNC has recorded 20 or more wins in a season.
Courtney Johnston led the Tar Heel attack uncorking 16 kills. Emily McGee added 14 kills and eight digs. Middles Christine Vaughen and Shelbey Bleke chipped in eight kills apiece. Bleke added five of Carolina's six blocks.
"I am really proud of this team to win two matches on the road in this competitive conference," exclaimed head coach Joe Sagula. "We showed a lot of resiliency after dropping the first set. We made some lineup adjustments and found a way to win."
Cora Harms quarterbacked the Tar Heel attack notching 41 assists. Libero Kaylie Gibson anchored the UNC defense with 30 digs and defensive specialist Cayla Shortley reeled in 10 digs.
The Terrapins darted out to an early 10-2 lead behind some tough serves to force a North Carolina timeout. Carolina cut the Maryland lead to as short as three, but the Terrapins proved too much claiming set one 25-19. Middles Vaughen and Bleke collaborated for six kills to zero errors to lead UNC, but the Tar Heels committed eight errors to register a .111 hitting percentage.
The Tar Heels took their first lead early in the second and never looked back to win set two 25-16. Carolina belted a .394 hitting percentage as Johnston, McGee and Vaughen combined for 12 kills to zero errors. North Carolina forced seven Terrapin attack errors in the second and added three blocks. The first two frames featured zero tie scores and no lead changes.
Carolina used a balanced attack to win the third frame 25-21 and own a 2-1 advantage in the match. The Tar Heels jumped out to their biggest lead at 6-1 early in the set. Maryland inched as close as two, but Carolina led the entire frame as the beneficiary of five Terrapin serve errors. Bleke notched four kills and a pair of blocks to anchor UNC in the third.
After zero lead changes and tie scores in the first three frames, the competitive fourth set featured 14 tie scores and three lead changes. Johnston, McGee and Haydel all cranked six kills apiece in the final frame to lead UNC. The Tar Heels pushed in front 22-20 and won the match after the Terrapins ninth serve error.
UNC earns their 20th win of the season, the fastest the Tar Heels have reached 20 wins since 2002.
North Carolina returns home hosting Old North State foes Wake Forest Friday at 7 p.m. and Duke Saturday at 6 p.m. from Carmichael Arena.
