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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
UNC Sweeps Maryland
September 23, 2011 | Volleyball
Sept. 23, 2011
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - North Carolina captured its conference opener with a sweep of Maryland 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-16) at the Comcast Pavilion. Emily McGee paced the Tar Heels with 13 kills and Cora Harms and Erica Behm combined for 35 assists. Kaylie Gibson registered 16 digs to pilot the defense.
True freshmen Cameron Van Noy, making her first career start, tallied two kills and a block assist to put the Tar Heels ahead 3-1 early in the opening set. With the score even at 6-6, Carolina went on a 9-5 run to go up four points on the Terrapins 15-11 before a media timeout. The Tar Heels won three of the next five points before Maryland called a timeout of its own, trailing by five 18-13. UNC closed out set one (25-19) on a kill by Chaniel Nelson on an assist from Cora Harms. Van Noy led Carolina with five kills with a .833 hitting percentage.
Carolina fell behind 8-3 to start the second frame but rallied to trim the Terrapin lead to two, 9-7, on a kill by Emily McGee assisted by Erica Behm. Maryland extended their lead to four 12-8 on a kill by Mary Cushman but the Tar Heels again pared the lead down to two 15-13. Out of a media timeout, Carolina went on a 5-2 run to take its first lead of set two 18-17, capped by a service ace from Tia Gaffen. The Tar Heels extended their advantage to 23-20 on consecutive attack errors by the Terrapins. Maryland continued to falter late as UNC captured set two (25-22) on a service error by Ashleigh Crutcher. McGee notched five kills in the frame.
Nelson unleashed three straight kills to move Carolina in front 7-3 in the third set, forcing Maryland to call timeout. UNC later increased its advantage to six as they went up 15-9 on back-to-back kills by Nelson and Kayla Berringer. The Tar Heels took 10 of the next 16 points to take the third set (25-19) and the match 3-0.
Carolina tallied 44 kills on 102 swings and only nine errors for a .343 attack percentage. UNC came into the match leading the ACC in kills per set, hitting percentage and assists per set. Carolina is now 9-3 (1-0) on the season. The match was televised by the ACC Network.
The road swing continues for the Tar Heels as they travel to Boston College for a noon match Sunday.
