University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
19-2, 11-0ACC
Virginia Tech
8-14, 3-8ACC
Tar Heels Extend Winning Streak With Victory Over VT
October 29, 2016 | Volleyball
 |
| Postgame Infographic |
Blacksburg, Va. – No. 8 North Carolina captured its 11th straight victory on Friday night, taking down Virginia Tech, 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-21, 25-17). Taylor Treacy tied her career high with 18 kills, and Taylor Fricano posted her third-straight match with a career-high seven blocks to lead the Tar Heels to victory. With the win, UNC improves to 19-2 (11-0 ACC) while Virginia Tech falls to 8-14 (3-8 ACC).
Redshirt senior Taylor Treacy led Carolina's offense with 18 kills, including nine in the second set alone, hitting an impressive .412. After starting the match with five kills and eight attack errors, Taylor Leath turned it around in the third set to rattle off seven kills without another mistake and finish the match with 12 kills. Freshman Taylor Borup followed with nine kills, and Fricano and Hayley McCorkle each slammed seven, including a match-high .545 clip by Fricano.
Both Carolina setters joined libero Sheila Doyle in double-digit digs, as Doyle led the team with 14, Mariah Evans posted a career-high 11 digs, and Abigail Curry registered 10. Curry recorded her 23rd career double-double with 34 assists to go with two aces, while Doyle and Evans were each an assist shy with nine apiece.
Carolina's blocking unit exploded for 7.5 stuffs in the first set and finished the night with a total of 13.5. Fricano recorded her third straight match with seven blocks, while Sydnye Fields registered six and Treacy and Leath each had five.
Carolina raced out to a 6-1 lead to open the match, but the Hokies surged back within two, 9-7, then tied the score at 14 on a block. Both teams traded points until a 4-0 run by UNC put the Tar Heels in front, 22-19. Back-to-back blocks by Fricano and Treacy closed out the opening frame, as UNC took the first set, 25-21.
Curry served Carolina to an early lead once again in the second set, 5-0, but much like the first stanza, Virginia Tech came back to tie the score at 10 on a block by Mandy Powers and Jaila Tolbert. A kill by Amanda McKinzie gave the Hokies their first lead of the set, and another McKinzie kill made it 20-15. Back-to-back kills by Treacy pulled Carolina back within one, 23-22, but a pair of UNC errors gave away the comeback, as Virginia Tech evened the match with a 25-22 decision in the second.
Doyle served the Tar Heels to their early lead in the third set, as UNC raced out to a 7-1 advantage off strong points scored by all four Taylors. Much like the first two sets, Virginia Tech fought back and a kill by McKinzie knotted the score at 18. VT took its first lead of the set, 20-19, on a UNC attack error, but a strong service run by Casey Jacobs led the Tar Heels on a five-point swing to reach set point, and a kill by Treacy ended the frame in UNC's favor, 25-21.
The Tar Heels steadily pushed in front in the fourth set, riding a 12-6 lead into a Hokie timeout. Unlike the previous three sets, Carolina held off Virginia Tech, never allowing the Hokies closer than three, and an attack into the net closed out the match, as UNC won the fourth set, 25-17, and claimed the match, 3-1.
UNC continues its road trip on Sunday, Oct. 30, with a visit to Pittsburgh. Opening serve against the Panthers is set for 1 p.m.
