University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
19-3, 11-1ACC
Pittsburgh
17-7, 8-4ACC
Tar Heels Suffer First ACC Loss At Pittsburgh, 3-2
October 30, 2016 | Volleyball
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| Postgame Infographic |
PITTSBURGH – No. 8 North Carolina's 11-match winning streak ended on Sunday afternoon, as the University of Pittsburgh took down the Tar Heels in five sets (21-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-23, 6-15) to hand Carolina its first ACC loss of the season. The win lifts the Panthers to 17-7 (8-4 ACC), while the Tar Heels drop to 19-3 (11-1 ACC).
The Tar Heel blocking unit was in tip top shape on Sunday afternoon, as Carolina put up a total of 16.5 blocks in the match, its fourth 15-block performance of the season. Junior Taylor Fricano led the Tar Heels with a career-high 10 stuffs in the match, the third double-digit outing for a Tar Heel this year. Senior Taylor Treacy tied her career high with seven blocks, while Taylor Borup also matched her personal best with five.
Sophomore Taylor Leath led UNC's offense with 17 kills in the match, while Borup tallied 13 and was just shy of a double-double with a career-high nine digs. Libero Sheila Doyle recorded a match-leading 22 digs in the match, her 17th career 20-dig outing. Senior Abigail Curry dished out 29 assists and six digs, while freshman Mariah Evans put up 10 assists.
The Tar Heels dominated the serve and pass game early, leading 5-1 in aces after the first two sets including two by Borup, but Pittsburgh turned the tables after intermission, out-serving UNC 4-0 over the final three sets.
Carolina's offensive efficiency improved, however, as the match went along, including hitting .393 in the fourth set after running a measly .045 clip over the first two sets. Nevertheless, it was all Pittsburgh in the deciding fifth frame, as the Panthers hit .611 with no unforced errors to knock off the eighth-ranked Tar Heels.
Carolina controlled the majority of the first set, racing ahead 11-6 to open the match. However, after the Tar Heels led 20-17, three kills by Jenna Potts and four Carolina errors allowed the Panthers to come roaring back, winning eight of the final nine points of the frame and taking the opener, 25-21.
The Tar Heels exploded for a 12-4 lead to open the second set, but once again, the Panthers came charging back, as a seven-point run midway through the set pulled Pitt within one, 14-13. Borup struck a kill to keep UP from tying the score, then teamed up with Fricano for a block to help UNC push back in front, 17-13. Carolina held firm to its lead this time as back-to-back blocks from Beth Nordhorn off the bench helped secure the frame for UNC, 25-19.
An early Pittsburgh run flipped a 6-2 deficit to an 8-6 lead to open the third. A block by Borup and Fricano pulled UNC within one, 12-11, but Pitt won seven of the next eight points to make it 19-12 and a service error sealed the deal for Pittsburgh, 25-15.
The fourth set was a nail-biter, featuring 16 ties and six lead changes. After trailing, 17-16, Leath scored four straight points for the Tar Heels with two kills and two blocks to give Carolina a 20-17 advantage, but back-to-back kills by Stephanie Williams tied the score at 21. However, Williams followed by making two attack errors and serving a ball out of bounds to get UNC to set point, and Borup crushed one to end it, 25-23, and force a fifth set.
The fifth set began in a 4-4 tie, but the rest of the set was all Panthers, as Pittsburgh sprinted ahead 13-5 on a service run by Angela Seman and a service ace by setter Kamalani Akeo closed out the match for Pittsburgh, 15-6.
The Tar Heels' road swing continues next weekend with a trip to Florida to take on Miami and No. 11 Florida State. Carolina will face the Hurricanes (4-7, 10-13 ACC) on Friday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m., before a battle for first place with the Seminoles (18-3, 11-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m.
