University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
11-2, 3-0
Georgia Tech
10-5, 1-2
Tar Heels Sting Yellow Jackets, 3-0
October 1, 2016 | Volleyball
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| Postgame Infographic |
ATLANTA – No. 10 North Carolina continued its winning ways on Friday night, exhibiting poise down the stretch to defeat a tough Georgia Tech team in straight sets (25-19, 28-26, 25-23). Unaffected by a boisterous and passionate crowd, the 10th-ranked Tar Heels came out of at Atlanta with a sweep for just the second time since 1988 to improve to 11-2 (3-0 ACC) on the season, while Georgia Tech fell to 10-5 (1-2 ACC).
The Tar Heel front row exploded for six blocks in the first set alone, posting a total of 11.0 stuffs in the match. Carolina was led at the net by middles Taylor Fricano (6) and Sydnye Fields (5), while pin hitters Julia Scoles, Taylor Treacy and Taylor Leath each put up three apiece, and Hayley McCorkle contributed an additional pair.
Leath led the match with 15 kills on the night, falling a dig short of a double-double with nine. Treacy and Scoles followed with kills 10 each, and McCorkle added nine.
Abigail Curry and Mariah Evans teamed up at setter, as Curry totaled 22 assists while Evans dished out 15 assists and six digs. Senior libero Sheila Doyle led the Tar Heel back row with 15 digs, while Scoles registered her seventh double-double of the season with 13 digs.
Carolina landed four aces in the match, with two each from Doyle and Fricano.
A strong run by Carolina midway through the first set gave UNC a solid 15-10 lead. Georgia Tech took advantage of three Tar Heel attack errors to close the gap to one, but a kill by Leath kept UNC on top and two late blocks made it 23-17. Georgia Tech wiped off two UNC set points, but Leath ended the opening frame with a kill to win it for UNC, 25-19.
Carolina led the second set early, but Georgia Tech tied the score at 16 on a service ace by Ashley Askin. The Yellow Jackets took the lead for the first time 20-19, on another ace, but a kill and a block by Leath put UNC back in front, 21-20. The Tar Heels never again allowed Georgia Tech back in front, but the Yellow Jackets held off three set points before a service ace by Fricano finally closed the second, 28-26.
The Tar Heels opened up an early 7-3 lead and appeared to be cruising through the third, when Georgia Tech surged back to tie the score at 19. Kills by Lauren Pitz and Teegan Van Gunst gave the Yellow Jackets a 23-21 lead, but Carolina replied to win the next four points and secure the match with a 25-23 victory in the third.
UNC concludes its seven-match road trip on Sunday, Oct. 2, with a conference contest at Clemson. The Tar Heels will square off against the Tigers at 1 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.
