University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Miami
Miami Holds Off UNC 3-1
November 14, 2010 | Volleyball
Nov. 14, 2010
CORAL GABLES, FLA. --- Miami held on for a dramatic 3-1 victory over North Carolina (18-25, 23-25, 26-24, 27-29) Sunday afternoon at the Knight Sports Complex. Cora Harms posted a season-best 54 assists and 20 digs as UNC falls to 21-9 overall and 12-5 in the ACC.
Harms unloaded her team-best 14th double-double of 2010. Suzanne Haydel added her ninth double-double with a season-best 17 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore Emily McGee recorded 17 kills and 13 digs, good for her 10th double-double of 2010.
ACC leading libero Kaylie Gibson reeled in a season-high 31 digs. Courtney Johnston added 12 kills and Christine Vaughen chipped in nine. UNC was plagued by a season-high 10 serve errors.
"I was really pleased with the defensive efforts of Kaylie Gibson and Cora Harms," exclaimed head coach Joe Sagula. "It was two evenly matched teams and we just got off to a slow start. Suzanne Haydel really had a great match and we rode her down the stretch. I was proud of how we fought back, but we need to get off to a better start."
The Hurricanes pulled away in the middle of set one to win the first frame 25-18. Miami posted a .250 hitting percentage to the Tar Heels' .095 clip. UNC suffered three serve errors and trailed by as many as seven. Johnston notched four kills in the first to lead UNC.
UNC committed five serve errors as the Hurricanes claimed set two 25-23. Carolina was much better offensively cranking 17 kills to just four errors. Haydel and McGee combined for six kills apiece to lead UNC. Miami led nearly the entire frame to own a 2-0 match lead.
The Tar Heels rallied by as many as seven down to claim the third frame 26-24. A four-run capped by a Vaughen killed allowed Carolina to force a fourth set. McGee and Johnston cranked five kills apiece as UNC registered a .326 hitting percentage. Carolina lead just once in the third, but it was enough to force a fourth frame.
The marathon fourth frame featured 15 tie scores and five lead changes before Miami triumphed to a 29-27 win. The two teams traded points the entire frame and neither team led by more than four. Haydel uncorked several kills down the stretch to keep Carolina alive. Lane Carico, who finished with a match-high 21 kills, dropped eight in the last frame allowing the Hurricanes to prevail.
Carolina returns home next weekend hosting Clemson Friday at 5 p.m. and Georgia Tech Sunday at 1 p.m. from Carmichael Arena. The match against the Yellow Jackets will serve as senior night for UNC's three seniors Suzanne Haydel, Courtney Johnston and Christine Vaughen.
