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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
NC State
Tar Heels Edge Wolfpack, 3-2
October 4, 2011 | Volleyball
Oct. 4, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina improved its record to 2-0 in five-set matches, defeating rival NC State, 3-2 (25-12, 25-11, 23-25, 20-25, 15-9) at Carmichael Arena. Junior outside hitter Emily McGee paced the Tar Heels with 19 kills and a season-high 22 digs. UNC improves to 13-3 on the season and 5-0 in the conference.
The Tar Heels jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the opening set on a kill by Kayla Berringer, forcing a Wolfpack timeout. Carolina went on an 8-3 run out of the timeout, highlighted by two kills apiece from Berringer and McGee, increasing its lead to nine (15-6). UNC took 10 of the next 16 points to win set one going away (25-12), capturing set point on a kill by McGee, assisted by Cora Harms. Berringer and McGee each tallied four kills in the frame.
Carolina again ran out to an early advantage in the second stanza (8-4) on consecutive attack errors by NC State's Megan Cyr. UNC pieced together another big run, capturing 11 of the next 16 points en route to a 10-point lead (19-9) as the Wolfpack burned another timeout. The Tar Heels closed out the second set on a 6-2 spurt, winning set point on a kill by Cora Harms, assisted by Kaylie Gibson. UNC tallied twice as many kills as the Wolfpack through two frames (26 to 13). McGee tacked on five more kills in set two.
The third set proved to be much closer than the previous two, featuring 10 tie scores and five lead changes. The Wolfpack knotted the score at 16 on a kill by Margaret Salata, assisted by Cyr. NC State later pulled ahead by two (22-20) on a kill from Brie Merriwether and an attack error by UNC's Chaniel Nelson. Carolina dropped the third set (25-23) to the Wolfpack, but still led the match 2-1.
The momentum really began to shift in the fourth frame, as the Wolfpack grabbed an early 2-0 lead on a Merriwether kill and service ace from Alston Kearns. NC State would never trail during the fourth frame and led by as many as six (23-17) at one point, its largest lead of the match. The Wolfpack took set four on a kill by Cyr, assisted by Alexa Micek.
The Tar Heels came out strong in the deciding game five, winning the first three points via a kill from Nelson and back-to-back Wolfpack errors. The Tar Heels used a kill from Tia Gaffen to build their lead to four (8-4), midway through the frame. UNC ultimately closed out the set (15-9) and match, 3-2 on an attack error by NC State.
Carolina posted a .323 attack percentage for the match. The Tar Heels currently rank seventh in the nation and second in the ACC with a .279 hitting percentage.
McGee has been on a tear of late, registering three straight double-doubles and has now posted double-digit kills in 13 of UNC's 16 matches
The Tar Heels return to action Oct. 7, as they play host to the Florida State Seminoles at Carmichael Arena. The match is at 7 p.m. and admission is free.
