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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Arizona State
North Carolina Tops Arizona State to Conclude Carolina Classic
September 10, 2011 | Volleyball
Sept. 10, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina volleyball team closed out action at the 2011 Carolina Classic with a sweep of Arizona State (25-15, 25-10, 25-20) Saturday at Carmichael Arena.
The Tar Heels improved to 6-2 on the season and wrapped up second-place finish in the tournament with a 2-1 record. Senior setter Erica Behm and junior outside hitter Emily McGee were Carolina's representatives on the all-tournament team.
Carolina and Arizona State alternated the first six points of the match before the Tar Heels broke out with a 4-0 run, including two Behm kills, to take the lead 7-3. Adding to its lead with two more 4-0 stretches, North Carolina wrapped up the first set with a kill from Emily McGee, her fourth of the frame. Berringer paced the Heels attack with six kills and Behm added three kills and 11 assists in the winning effort.
The second set played out similarly, with the Tar Heels alternating points with Arizona State before distancing themselves with a run. Carolina strung together six consecutive points (two ASU errors, two kills, and two blocks) to build an eight-point advantage at 12-4 before running away with the set on a string of five consecutive kills. Tia Gaffen sealed the second set with a kill, capping off her four-kill, one-block set performance. Chaniel Nelson contributed three kills and three blocks in the second set.
The third set was the tightest of the match, featuring six knotted scores before the final tie at 15-all. Carolina mounted another breakaway string, comprised of kills from Gaffen and McGee to take the lead, 20-15. The Sun Devils and the Tar Heels exchanged points through the end of the frame, but Carolina maintained its five-point advantage, winning the set 25-20 and the match. Three Tar Heels posted double-digit kills in the match. Gaffen led the Carolina attack with 14 kills at a .571 hitting percentage while Berringer added 13 kills on a .360 clip. McGee rounded out the Carolina attack with 12 kills while adding six digs in the effort.
The Sun Devils were led by Danica Medivil's 12 kills and Shannan McCready's 19 assists.
Carolina is back in action next weekend when they host the 2011 Tar Heel Classic. The Tar Heels will play host to Tulsa, Miami (Ohio) and Saint Louis September 16-17 at Carmichael Arena.
