University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Hokies Edge Tar Heels
November 19, 2011 | Volleyball
Nov. 19, 2011
Season Statistics | Vote Gibson for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech defeated North Carolina, 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-20, 25-20) in front of 512 fans at Cassell Coliseum. Emily McGee posted 14 kills and 21 digs for her 13th double-double in her last 15 matches and Erica Behm pitched in 41 assists in the loss.
"I thought Virginia Tech played well, specifically they played good defense," said head coach Joe Sagula. "And we struggled, we came out slow. For us, we need to start really strong and get our momentum. So we just weren't as sharp as we needed to be tonight. But we need to come back focused and play a great match against Virginia."
Virginia Tech fell behind the Tar Heels (3-0) in the opening set, before rattling off four straight points to take a 4-3 lead. The Hokies would not trail again on their way to a 25-21 first-set victory. Trailing by four (21-17) late, UNC battled back to within two (21-19) on a kill by Behm. But the Hokies finished out set one on a 4-1 spurt, taking set point (25-20) on a Victoria Hamsher kill.
The Tar Heels ran out to an early 4-1 lead in the second frame, following a kill by Emily McGee. Virginia Tech later pared the UNC advantage to one (11-10) after a kill by Justine Record. Carolina countered with an 8-3 run to stretch its lead to six (19-13), capped by a Tia Gaffen kill. The Tar Heels later captured set point (25-18) on a kill by Kayla Berringer. Gaffen posted six kills in set two to ignite the Carolina attack and Cameron Van Noy added five kills.
The third set featured seven tie scores and two lead changes, with the Hokies prevailing (25-20). UNC trailed by two (3-1) early, but battled back to pull ahead by two (11-9) on a Gaffen kill. Virginia Tech responded to take the next four points en route to a two-point lead (13-11). The Hokies never looked back, leading by as many as five (23-18) before closing out set three (25-20) on a kill by Record from Erin Leaser.
The fourth set was also close in the early going, before Virginia Tech again pulled away for the victory. With Carolina trailing by two (16-14), the Hokies went on a 6-3 run to go ahead by five (22-17), capped by a kill by Hamsher. Virginia Tech's Cara Baarendse and Kirsty Blue combined to block a McGee attack for match point (25-20).
Carolina next travels to Charlottesville, Va., to clash with Virginia from Memorial Gymnasium Saturday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m.
