.png&width=36&height=36&type=webp)
University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Tulsa
Tulsa Edges UNC 3-1
September 16, 2011 | Volleyball
Sept. 16, 2011
Final Stats |
Tournament Central
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Tulsa defeated North Carolina 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-22, 27-25) in the second match of the 2011 Tar Heel Classic at Carmichael Arena. Tia Gaffen (17) and Emily McGee (22) each tallied a career high in kills.
Tulsa jumped out to an early lead in the opening set and went up 18-9 after a kill by two-time All-America Tyler Henderson. UNC called timeout and forged a 14-5 run to even the score at 23-all off of kills from McGee and senior middle blocker Shelbey Bleke. The Tar Heels committed back-to-back errors to end the frame as Tulsa took a 1-0 lead in the match. Gaffen and McGee combined for nine kills in set one and junior setter Erica Behm pitched in 12 assists.
The Tar Heels trailed for most of the second set, but took their first lead of the match 17-16, on a kill by Kayla Berringer off an assist from McGee. From there, Carolina closed out the frame on an 8-3 run, highlighted by two kills each from McGee and Gaffen. Junior middle blocker paced the offense in the second set, registering nine kills. Seniors Kaylie Gibson and Aleksandra Georgieva combined for 13 digs.
The third frame was back-and-forth, featuring five tie scores and three lead changes. Down 20-18, Carolina answered out of a timeout with a kill by McGee to trim the Hurricane advantage to one, 20-19. Tulsa countered with back-to-back kills of its own and captured set three on a kill by Henderson, assisted by Jordan Clampitt.
Set four proved to be even tighter, featuring 10 even scores and five lead changes. Tulsa appeared to be pulling away after going up 18-14 on an attack error my McGee. However, the Tar Heels rallied to square the score at 20-all on consecutive attack errors by Tulsa. Leading 24-23, UNC had a chance to serve for the match, but Gaffen committed a service error. The Tar Heels went back up 25-24 and had another chance to close out the match but an attack by McGee sailed just wide, allowing the Golden Hurricane to knot the score again 25-25. Tulsa took the fourth stanza in extra points 27-25 and the match 3-1.
The Tar Heels hit .265 as a team and fall to 6-3 on the season.
Carolina returns to Carmichael Saturday as they face Miami of Ohio at 12 p.m. The Tar Heels play again at 7:30 p.m. against Tulsa. Admission to the matches are free and there will be free Jimmy John's giveaways.
