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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
6-7, 3-1ACC
Wake Forest
9-7, 1-3ACC
Tar Heels Dismantle Demon Deacons
October 3, 2015 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The North Carolina volleyball team captured its 18th straight ACC home victory on Saturday night, sweeping Wake Forest, 25-12, 25-13, 25-15, to improve to 6-7 (3-1 ACC) on the season. With the loss, Wake Forest falls to 9-7 (1-3 ACC).
“This was great for us to win back-to-back matches, something we've hardly done all year,” said head coach Joe Sagula. “It was really important for us today. I think we're setting ourselves up for something great. Wake Forest is a great team. I think we did a lot today to get them out of their rhythm. I was just really proud of how our team played and performed. This was a statement for us moving forward.”
The Tar Heel blockers seemingly stopped everything that came their way, putting up a season-high 15.0 blocks in just three sets, including a team-season-best 10 stuffs by Victoria McPherson. The Carolina net defense, who entered the weekend ranked sixth in the nation with 3.04 blocks per set on the year, out-blocked their opponents 26.5-4.0 on the week, highlighted by the middle duo of McPherson and Neuenfeldt as well as pin hitter Taylor Treacy; in addition to McPherson's 10, Neuenfeldt and Treacy each had five blocks against Wake.
“They all came in in the same year, so they're in the same class essentially,” said Sagula of the fourth-year blocking trio. “I think TT gains a lot of confidence from watching Paige and Victoria go after it, no question. I think it helps Taylor a lot, and then when TT is blocking like she does, it gets the middles fired up. That's the way it should be in a team sport.”
The high-powered block and an excellent serve and pass game helped Carolina to hit .375 while holding the Demon Deacons to a -.049 clip.
Treacy led the efficient Tar Heel offense by hitting .500 with 10 kills to go with her five stuffs. McPherson also hit .500 with eight kills, and Leigh Andrew posted seven kills.
“This was a great match for Taylor Treacy,” said Sagula. “We've been waiting for a match like this and I was excited. She had some great swings…put the ball down three swings in a row. I was just really proud of her resilience and ability to sustain and not get frustrated. I think that's a big step for her maturity in the game.”
Jordyn Schnabl and Tatiana Durr combined for five service aces in the match, three of which came in the first seven points of the match, and Schnabl added a team-high 14 assists. Fellow setter Abigail Curry put up 12 assists and six digs, and libero Sheila Doyle led the team with seven digs.
“I think it was really important for us to get confidence,” said Neuenfeldt. “Today was the day to get our confidence up; we served them off the court, our pins got some awesome swings and we had a field day blocking. It was an overall great day for all of us, and we have to run with this confidence!”
Schnabl opened the match with an ace, and another ace from the senior setter spotted Carolina a quick 4-0 lead. The Tar Heels kept the serve strong throughout the frame, as Durr added a pair of aces as well, and the Carolina Blue cruised to a 25-12 win. The Tar Heels made just one error in the opening stanza, out-hitting the Demon Deacons, .520 to .034.
The Tar Heels used five blocks in the second set to force a -.320 clip by the Demon Deacons, cruising to a 25-13 win.
Carolina took a 7-3 lead to begin the third set, but Wake Forest fought back to pull within one, 7-6. However, a kill by Neuenfeldt kicked off a 5-0 run for the Tar Heels, and seven Tar Heel blocks help UNC drive it home, winning the third set, 25-15, and claiming its second sweep of the weekend.
“I think it's important for us to have won the match, especially in three sets, to show that we're not going to slip up,” Sagula closed. “I think we've gained confidence, and I think the rest of the conference is going to take notice. They're going to have to prepare for us. We're going to get everybody's best match, everybody's going to be prepared for us, and we've just got to be ready to get after it. That's the most important thing.”
The Tar Heels take a trip across the Triangle on Wednesday, Oct. 7, for their first ACC mid-week match of the season. Carolina will square off with NC State at Broughton High School in Raleigh beginning at 7:30 p.m.
