North Carolina
2-6
Michigan State
7-3
Michigan State Knocks off Tar Heels in Four
September 19, 2015 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL – North Carolina volleyball continued its season-opening homestand on Friday night with a visit by Michigan State to begin the ACC/Big Ten Classic. The Spartans, who were ranked in the first two AVCA polls of the season, used aggressive serving to improve to 7-3 on the year, topping North Carolina, 3-1 (25-15, 25-18, 23-25, 25-22). The loss is just the third at home for the Tar Heels over the past four seasons, as UNC sinks to 2-6.
“We're not taking confidence in what we're learning in practice into games right now,” said Senior CLASS Award candidate Paige Neuenfeldt. “It's kind of frustrating in that aspect, because I know that we are talented enough and that we're going to be ok and we can do this.
“We definitely found some people who wanted to play in those third and fourth sets, and I really hope we see more of those people who come and play consistently for us.”
Neuenfeldt, who played two sets at middle hitter followed by two sets on the outside, led the team with a season-high 14 kills, hitting .306, while matching her personal best with three service aces to go with three blocks and three digs.
Tatiana Durr led the back row with 15 digs, and put up five kills and a block after moving from libero to outside hitter for the final two sets. Heather Gearhart posted 10 digs as the third and fourth set libero.
“Tati Durr, I thought she played amazing,” said Neuenfeldt, “especially since she hasn't swung outside in three weeks, and she came out and she wasn't afraid. She was going after the huge Michigan State block, and she passed well for me, so I was really proud of her.
“I thought Heather Gearhart also did a great job stepping back into her libero role, and was just really getting after it on D. I was really proud of both of them.”
Jordyn Schnabl guided the offense with 23 assists and six digs, while Abigail Curry registered 18 assists and seven digs.
Michigan State won the first two points of the match and the Spartans never relinquished the lead, using a 9-0 run to take a daunting 20-7 lead. A kill by Hayley McCorkle finally got the Tar Heels out of the rotation and helped Carolina push back with a 7-3 run, but it was too little too late, as Michigan State closed out the first set, 25-15.
The Spartans started hot in the second set, using three straight aces by Rachel Minarick to jump ahead 10-4. The Tar Heels battled back, taking care of the ball without hitting an attack out of bounds all set, and soon pulled within two, 17-15, but Michigan State was poised down the stretch to win the final four points and take the second set, 25-18.
Coach Sagula made a lineup change to start set three, moving Gearhart to libero, Durr and Neuenfeldt to outside hitter and adding Beth Nordhorn to the rotation in the middle. The fresh look reinvigorated the Tar Heels, as a pair of aces by Neuenfeldt spotted Carolina its first lead of the night, 7-4. The Heels maintained the advantage for the majority of the set, but an ace by Holly Toliver tied the score at 17 and a kill and a block by Alyssa Garvelink put the Spartans on top, 19-17. A pair of Carolina errors allowed MSU to pull further ahead, 22-18, but a kill by Victoria McPherson gave UNC momentum and Neuenfeldt slammed three straight to tie the score at 22. An ace by Sheila Doyle made it Tar Heel set point, and Durr closed out the frame with a kill to keep Carolina alive, 25-23.
“Sometimes you have to change the rhythm of the game and the nature of who's there,” said head coach Joe Sagula. “It worked with Paige, so that was the move we needed.”
MSU controlled the pace of the fourth set, running out to a 14-7 lead, but the Tar Heels refused to back down, coming all the way back from down 20-14 to cut the deficit to two, 21-19. However, Carolina was unable to get any closer, and a kill by Megan Tompkins completed the match, 3-1, with a 25-22 decision in the fourth.
“I can't tell you what our lineup will be tomorrow; I don't think anyone knows,” said Neuenfeldt. “But I just hope that everyone comes back after a night of rest with a better mind set and is just ready to go after it, because we are talented enough to beat these teams.”
Carolina closes out nonconference play on Saturday night by hosting No. 20 Michigan in the conclusion of the ACC/Big Ten Classic. The annual Alumni Night match is set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
