University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
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Georgia Southern
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Tar Heels Sweep Georgia Southern To Open 2016
August 26, 2016 | Volleyball
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| Postgame Infographic |
University Park, Pa. – No. 19 North Carolina opened the 2016 season in style, racing to a clean sweep (25-18, 25-21, 25-15) of Georgia Southern to kick off the Penn State Classic. UNC showcased its depth, as 14 Tar Heels saw significant action in the season opener, including five of the team's eight freshmen.
The Tar Heels started a different lineup in each of the three sets, as nine different Tar Heels struck a kill in Friday night's season preview. The Carolina attack was led by Taylor Fricano, Julia Scoles and Taylor Treacy, who all landed eight kills with just one error apiece, including a .636 clip by Fricano in her first match at middle hitter. UNC used a trio of middles in the match, with Sydnye Fields and Beth Nordhorn splitting time opposite Fricano. They both had four kills on six swings (.667), while Fields and Fricano tied for the team lead with five blocks each.
Despite all new faces in the middle, Carolina, who ranked fourth in the nation last season in blocks per set, kept up its prowess at the net, stuffing 11.5 blocks in just three sets. In addition to Fields and Fricano, Treacy blocked three attacks and Scoles, Taylor Borup and Hayley McCorkle each had two.
Senior libero Sheila Doyle paced the back row with a team-best 18 digs, while Abigail Curry put up 28 assists and six digs. The Tar Heels switched to a 6-2 for the third set, as freshman Mariah Evans tallied five assists in the final frame.
UNC won the serve and pass battle, siding out at 72 percent as compared to just 52 percent by the Eagles. Curry and Scoles each landed two aces, while freshman Mia Fradenburg dropped in an ace serve as well. UNC followed with an efficient attack, out-hitting GSU .303 to .093.
Carolina raced out to a 5-1 lead to start the match and the Tar Heels kept their foot on the gas, taking the first frame, 25-18. UNC was extremely efficient in the opening stanza, making just one unforced error for a team attack percentage of .344, led by Fricano who went a perfect 4-for-4.
The Eagles won the first three points of the second set, but UNC came roaring back with six straight, including three kills and a block by Nordhorn, to overtake the lead, 6-3. GSU regrouped after a timeout to regain the lead, 7-6, on back-to-back service aces, but the Tar Heels pushed back in front to claim an 18-12 advantage on an ace by Fradenburg. The Eagles did not go quietly, but Carolina held off another comeback as a Taylor Leath kill closed out the second set, 25-21, in favor of UNC.
The third set was tight early, as a UNC service error knotted the score at seven. However, an ace by Curry helped spark a 4-0 run to make it 13-9 Carolina, and the Tar Heels never looked back. A kill by Scoles made it 20-14 and back-to-back Treacy kills set up match point. Freshmen Fields and Scoles sealed up the final point of the night, teaming up for a massive block to give UNC a 25-15 victory and a 3-0 sweep to open the year.
Carolina returns to Rec Hall on Saturday, Aug. 27, for two more matches at the Penn State Classic. UNC begins the day at 1 p.m. against West Virginia, then finishes out the weekend at 7 p.m. against seven-time national champion No. 9 Penn State.
