University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
13-2, 5-0ACC
Florida State
11-3, 4-1ACC
Balanced Attack Leads Tar Heels To Sweep Of No. 16 FSU
October 8, 2016 | Volleyball
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| Postgame Infographic |
CHAPEL HILL – No. 9 North Carolina experienced a happy homecoming on Friday night, cruising to a 3-0 sweep of No. 16 Florida State in its ACC home opener. The Tar Heels crushed the Seminoles, 25-12, in the opening set before battling to 25-22 and 25-21 wins over the next two frames. The win marks UNC's third over a ranked opponent this season as the Tar Heels improve to 13-2 (5-0 ACC), while Florida State takes its first conference loss of the year, falling to 11-3 (4-1 ACC).
“This was a big win,” said head coach Joe Sagula. “We have to be able to be good at home and it was such a relief to be playing in a friendly environment with a great crowd supporting us. I'm really proud of our team, mostly because I think we got better in this match. The way we've been playing, I told the team it seems like a new start for us. We've been on the road for such a long time that it's like a new season is starting. I like the way we started.”
The Tar Heels, who already have two wins over top-10 opponents this season, improved to 3-1 on the year against top-25 teams, picking up their first sweep of a ranked opponent this year t against the 16th-ranked Seminoles. The 3-0 victory marked the first time the Tar Heels have swept Florida State in 10 years (Nov. 16, 2006), as UNC had gone just 5-12 against the ACC powerhouse over the past decade.
Sophomore Taylor Leath led Carolina with her fifth double-double of the season, posting a match-high 13 kills to go with 12 digs. Taylor Fricano and Julia Scoles followed with nine kills apiece while combining for just three errors, as Fricano hit .412 and Scoles attacked at a .320 clip. Taylor Treacy totaled eight kills in the match, including going a perfect 4-for-4 in the first set.
Abigail Curry and Mariah Evans split the assists on the night, as Curry narrowly edged Evans, 20-17. Libero Sheila Doyle paced a solid Carolina defense with 17 digs, and Scoles tallied an additional 11.
The Tar Heels won the serve and pass battle, leading 4-1 in aces while allowing Florida State to side out at measly 45 percent. Carolina sided out a 62 percent on the night, including a nearly-perfect 10-for-12 in the first set.
Florida State entered the match leading the conference with a .272 clip on the season, including .336 in ACC play, but despite completing just six blocks in the match, Carolina held the Seminoles to just .145 hitting, including a -.036 clip in the first set.
A kill by Sydnye Fields gave UNC an early 6-4 lead, and the Tar Heels steadily drove ahead, finishing the first set on a 12-3 run to claim the opener, 25-12. Carolina out-hit Florida State .407 to -.036, led by a perfect 4-for-4 attacking by Treacy.
Florida State raced out to a 6-2 lead to begin the second, but Carolina regrouped after a timeout to push back in front, 8-7. The score remained tight until a 3-0 run with the help of a kill and an ace by Scoles made it 16-13 UNC. The Tar Heels forced further in front, 23-17, but the Seminoles did not back down, pulling back within two, 23-21. A kill on the slide by Fricano stopped the run, and a Seminole service error ended any hope of an FSU comeback as UNC took the second set, 25-22, to grab a 2-0 match lead.
“We knew Florida State would make a push, and they did,” said Sagula. “The fact that we came from behind was a really good positive for us. I felt we handled ourselves well. We never really panicked even when we got behind. I thought we stayed steady enough to overcome the errors, and we got them refocused.”
Florida State once again had the upper hand early in the third set, pulling ahead 13-8 on a kill by Mara Green. However, a kill by Fricano put the ball in Scoles' hands, and the talented rookie served the Tar Heels on a defining 9-0 run to turn the tables and race ahead, 17-13. Another kill by Green finally allowed the Seminoles to rotate, and soon FSU tied the score at 17. Nevertheless, kills by Treacy and Curry pushed UNC right back in front, and a kill by Scoles was the final blow as Carolina closed out the third, 25-21, to finish the match in three.
“I'm really proud of our team,” said Sagula. “To play a team like Florida State, who we have a lot of respect for—they're a really good team, a ranked team, who is always a tough opponent. The fact that we came out really strong was important. We wanted to be the team that set the tone.”
The Tar Heels have a day and a half to rest before returning to Carmichael Arena on Sunday, Oct. 9, to host Miami in ACC play. The match, which is slated to begin at 1 p.m., will be televised live on the ACC's group of regional sports networks (find your local affiliate) as well as streamed on ACC Network Extra.
