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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Miami
Hurricanes Top Tar Heels
November 4, 2011 | Volleyball
Nov. 4, 2011
Season Statistics | Vote Gibson for Lowe's Senior CLASS Award
CORAL GABLES, Fla.--North Carolina fell to Miami, 3-1 (21-25, 21-25, 27-25, 20-25) from James L. Knight Sports Complex. Redshirt freshman outside hitter Chaniel Nelson posted a career-high 20 kills on a .529 attack percentage in the loss to the Hurricanes. Carolina drops to 11-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, 19-6 overall.
"We were not as sharp as we needed to be tonight against a very good Miami team," said head coach Joe Sagula. "We needed to bring our A-game for this match, and we failed to do that. I felt like we made uncharacteristic plays that really don't reflect the type of team we have been for most of the season. Part of that is a credit to Miami and part of that is just a lack of focus by us. And we need to learn to rebound from this and play better in our next match."
The Hurricanes raced out to a seven-point lead (12-5) in the opening set, capped by a kill from Ali Becker, forcing the Tar Heels to call timeout. Carolina battled back out of the timeout, paring the Miami advantage to five (18-13) after back-to-back kills from Emily McGee. Cameron Van Noy and Nelson combined on a block to inch closer at 20-16. The Hurricanes went back up by seven (23-16) after a kill by Lane Carico. UNC again fought back, trimming the deficit to three (23-20) following a Carico attack error. Miami finally closed out set one (25-21) on a block by Katie Gallagher and Emani Sims.
Grabbing the early lead in set two was Carolina, going ahead by two (7-5) following consecutive kills by McGee. Miami countered with a 4-0 spurt to go up by two (9-7) on a Becker kill, as UNC called timeout. The Tar Heels later evened the score (15-15) with another kill by McGee. The Hurricanes won four of the next five points to take a three-point lead (19-16). UNC again mounted a comeback and trailed by only one (22-21) after a Carico service error, but the `Canes finished set two on a 3-0 run, capturing set point (25-21) on a McGee attack error.
The Tar Heels went up by three (6-3) on an attack error by Mami's Sims in the third period, its largest lead of the match. The Hurricanes responded with an 8-1 run to go ahead by four (11-7), forcing UNC to call timeout. Carolina evened the score at 17-all and regained the lead (18-17) following a McGee kill. The Tar Heels later led by two (22-20) but the `Canes forged a 3-0 spurt to go back ahead by one (23-22). Carolina rallied to force extra points, tying the score at 24 apiece after an attack error by Miami's Alex Johnson. UNC finished off set three (27-25) on an attack error by the Hurricanes' Christine Williamson.
With the score tied at 5-all early in the fourth set, Miami took four of the next five points to go ahead by three (9-6). Carolina later truncated the deficit to one (16-15) after a kill by McGee, assisted by Erica Behm. The Hurricanes again answered with a 4-1 run to go back ahead by three (20-17) on a Sims kill. Miami ultimately won the set (25-20), taking match point on a service error by UNC.
Nelson's previous career-best was 16 kills at home against Miami (Ohio) Sept. 17, 2011.
McGee registered her ninth double-double in the Tar Heels' last 11 matches, tallying 19 kills and 10 digs. The outside hitter from Naperville, Ill., has recorded double-digit kills in 22 of UNC's 25 matches.
Carolina continues its Florida swing, taking on the Florida State Seminoles Sunday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. from Tully Gym.
