University of North Carolina Athletics
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Florida State
Carolina Knocks Off No.14 Florida State In Five
September 30, 2010 | Volleyball
Sept. 30, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Senior Courtney Johnston cranked a career-best 22 kills to lift North Carolina over No. 14 Florida State 3-2 (18-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-22, 16-14) Thursday night at Carmichael Arena. Kaylie Gibson added 32 digs to improve North Carolina to 13-4 overall and 4-0 in the ACC.
With the win, Carolina stretches their win streak to season-best nine matches. The Tar Heels hand the No. 14 Seminoles their first ACC loss and end FSU's 19-match ACC win streak.
Cora Harms added 39 assists, 13 digs and five kills. Christine Vaughen uncorked 15 kills and a .429 hitting percentage. Emily McGee unloaded 15 kills and nine digs to round out the UNC performances.
"The seventh man tonight was Carolina Fever, they were phenomenal behind us," exclaimed head coach Joe Sagula. "Kaylie Gibson was a difference maker for us tonight at libero and obviously Courtney Johnston with a career-best 22 kills. This is a big big win for this team, defeating a ranked team in our conference. We should enjoy this tonight and be ready to get to work tomorrow."
Florida State claimed the first set 25-18 behind a powerful attack. The Seminoles scored their first 11 kills without an attack error to lead by as many as nine. FSU finished the set posting a .263 hitting percentage with 15 kills. Carolina was plagued by nine attack errors to just 12 kills, despite a late 4-0 run at the end of the frame.
The Tar Heels never trailed to win the second frame 25-20. UNC held the Seminoles to a -.030 hitting percentage forcing eight attack errors. Johnston, McGee and Vaughen combined for 14 kills to propel Carolina to a set two win. Florida State knotted the score at 19 late, but Carolina held on to even the match score at one.
The third set featured seven tie scores and three lead changes before Florida State edged Carolina 25-18. UNC won a marathon point after several remarkable digs and a Vaughen kill to push in front 11-10. The Seminoles battled back to earn a 23-17 lead and jump out to a 2-1 match advantage.
Johnston cranked nine kills in the fourth frame to carry UNC to a 25-22 set win and force a fifth and final frame. Carolina posted a .269 hitting percentage and a match-best 21 kills in the fourth. Harms added 11 assists and five digs to send the match to the fifth set.
The Seminoles, who posted just one serve error in the entire match, turned in a pair in the early going of the final frame. Carolina darted in front 10-8 after a Vaughen and Shelbey Bleke kill. Florida State answered back to fly in front 14-13. After a pair of clutch Aleksandra Georgieva serves and Johnston's 22nd kill of the night, Carolina prevailed to a 16-14 set five win and 3-2 match victory.
Carolina will be back in action Friday hosting Miami at 7 p.m. from Carmichael.
Notes: The Tar Heels were out-blocked 19 to six Thursday night . . . The team who posted the best hitting percentage won the first four sets, UNC posted a .132 clip to the Seminoles' .148 in the fifth frame . . . Thursday nights' match featured 30 tie scores and 12 lead changes.
