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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Carolina Rallies On The Road For 3-2 Victory
October 26, 2014 | Volleyball
ATLANTA – North Carolina volleyball struggled early but pulled off an epic comeback on the road, sweeping the last three sets to defeat Georgia Tech 3-2 (19-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-11, 15-9) Sunday afternoon.
The Tar Heels (17-2, 8-1 ACC) found themselves down 2-0 on the road for the third time this season, but unlike the previous two times the team rallied for a victory.
No. 9 UNC had a .235 hitting efficiency in the match but hit .365 in the final three sets, committing only 7 errors in those frames. The UNC defense also stepped up later in the match, tallying 39 of its 67 digs and 9.0 of its 13.0 blocks in the last three games.
Chaniel Nelson led the Carolina effort tonight, knocking down 19 kills with a .441 hitting percentage and racking up four blocks. Leigh Andrew was one kill shy of a double-double, as she had nine kills, 18 digs, and three blocks.
Taylor Treacy poured in seven kills and six blocks, while Jordyn Schnabl added her second double-double of the season with 27 assists and 11 digs.
Ece Taner broke the 20-dig mark for the second time this season, tying her season-high with 21 digs. Taner added in one service ace as well.
Georgia Tech gained an early 8-5 lead in set one after forcing a UNC attack error, then the Yellow Jackets stretched the advantage to 17-11 with a kill from Courtney Felinski. Nelson mounted a Tar Heel rally with three straight kills to cut the score to 19-15, but Tech responded with a 4-1 run of its own and finished off the set 25-19.
Set one saw Carolina struggle on both sides of the ball as the Tar Heels hit .200 as a team and committed 11 total errors in the frame. The UNC defense struggled to contain Georgia Tech's offense, as Tech hit .414 as a team and knocked down 14 kills.
The Tar Heels started set two off with a kill from Andrew, but Georgia Tech maintained found their momentum from set one. Tech sprinted to a 7-3 lead after a UNC attack error and then gained an 18-12 advantage on another UNC error. Carolina fell 25-19 in set two after failing to get cut the lead late in the set.
Carolina turned the match with a win in set three. UNC led 3-1 early before Tech recovered and eventually took the lead at 11-10.
UNC responded with a 6-1 run to push the score to 16-12 and take the lead for good in set three. A kill from Andrew pushed the UNC lead to 23-18 late in the set before Neuenfeldt ended game three with a kill.
Carolina continued its strong push by dominating set four behind two kills each from Andrew, Nelson and Beth Nordhorn.
UNC jumped to an 11-6 lead after Neuenfeldt earned a kill, then Nelson earned her first kill of the frame to keep the Tar Heels ahead 12-8. North Carolina put game four away for good on the serve of Heather Gearhart, who had served seven straight points to push the UNC lead to 18-8.
The Tar Heels finished the game off at 25-11 with a kill from Hayley McCorkle to send the match to set five.
In set five, UNC jumped to an 8-4 lead after Neuenfeldt tabbed another kill. A few points later Treacy slammed one of her three kills to give UNC a 10-6 advantage.
Georgia Tech could pull the game no closer than four as a kill from McCorkle ended set five at 15-9 and gave the match to UNC.
Beth Nordhorn had a strong match off the bench for UNC, tallying five kills and six blocks for UNC on a .500 hitting percentage. Paige Neuenfeldt added nine kills and six blocks, while Heather Gearhart added seven digs and two assists.
Hayley McCorkle added five kills in only 10 swings for a .500 hitting percentage. Abigail Curry dished 21 assists and added three kills for North Carolina.
UNC will host Miami next Friday at 6 p.m. in Carmichael Arena for a Halloween match. Fans are encouraged to come and support the Tar Heels in costume, as after the match there will be a chance to trick-or-treat with the players.
