Volleyball Falls to ECU in Straight Sets

Sunday, February 28

Greenville, N.C.

2 PM

North Carolina

7-3

ECU

2-4

North Carolina

ECU

Photo by: Jeffrey A. Camarati

February 28, 2021 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score

By: Ella Coxe

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Despite Aziah Buckner's match-high, 13 kills, and a .400 hitting percentage, North Carolina fell to ECU in straight sets on Sunday afternoon in Greenville, N.C.

After a slow start that had the Tar Heels trailing by as many as 10, Carolina's 13 kills brought UNC within striking distance, but ECU took first set, 25-23. Mirroring the first frame, the Pirates earned the same 25-23 decision, despite two blocks from Skyy Howard who totaled four throughout the match. ECU's momentum continued in the final set for the 25-16 win, and the match, 3-0.

For the Tar Heels, Parker Austin followed Buckner with seven kills, while both Howard and Aristea Tontai had five each. Maylen Mitrovich assisted 17 with Annabelle Archer tallying 15. Buckner finished the contest with 13 digs for a double-double, and libero Karenna Wurl had 10 digs and an ace. As a team, UNC out-killed ECU, 40-31.

ECU's S'Mara Riley had a match-best six blocks, and libero Camryn Allen posted 15 digs, leading the Pirate's to a 2-4 record. Carolina (7-3) begins ACC play at Syracuse Friday at 3 p.m.

How It Happened
ECU started the match strong before a kill from Amanda Phegley put UNC on the board. ECU went on a 8-2 run in the middle of the set to force a UNC timeout. Propelled by two kills each by Austin and Buckner, the Tar Heels pulled within four of ECU, 16-20. The Pirates called time following an ace by Wurl. A late 8-4 run that included kills from Howard and Kaya Merkler brought the Carolina within two. Despite the momentum spark, the Tar Heels dropped the first set, 25-23.

Despite trailing early in the second set, two kills from Emily Zinger and Tontai brought Carolina within three of the Pirates at the 9-6 mark. Buckner tied the game at 11-11 with a kill, and Archer served an ace to give the Tar Heels the lead, 12-11. An ace and a kill from Buckner forced an ECU timeout at 14-12. However, the Pirates came out of the break on an 8-2 run with the set tied at 20-all. Carolina and ECU traded points until back-to-back blocks secured the 25-23 win for the Pirates.

ECU continued in the third stanza, jumping to a 4-1 lead at the start. A kill by Howard brought the Tar Heels within one, 4-5. Back-to-back kills by Austin and Merkler pulled Carolina to 14-18, but ECU sprinted away with a 8-2 run as UNC tallied 12 errors in the set. The Pirates clinched the third set, 25-16, for the sweep.

Carolina Stat Leaders
» Kills: Aziah Buckner (13)
» Hitting percentage: Aziah Buckner (.400)
» Assists: Maylen Mitrovich (17)
» Blocks: Skyy Howard (4)
» Digs: Aziah Buckner (13), Karenna Wurl (10)