The North Carolina volleyball team wasted no time in the season-opening game against Georgia Southern, clipping the Eagles in three sets (25-18, 25-21, 25-15).
What happened?
The Tar Heels set the tempo right away. Julia Scoles picked up a kill — and Taylor Treacy echoed two more — to give North Carolina an early lead. Back-to-back kills by Taylor Fricano gave UNC a 10-5 lead. From there, UNC maintained a comfortable lead through the first set.
North Carolina faced a bit of a scare in the second set when Georgia Southern led 3-1, but Beth Nordhorn kept the Tar Heels contending with three straight kills to propel UNC to a 6-3 lead. The two teams dueled within points of each other, but North Carolina was able to break away with some quick kills to claim a 25-21 win.
Holding a 9-8 lead over Georgia Southern in the third set, North Carolina flashed its power again and Georgia Southern lost its shot at contention. Behind kills by Treacy and Scoles, UNC soared above the Eagles for a 25-15 third-set win to seal the match.
Who stood out?
Fricano established her place as a powerhouse, leading the team in kills (8) and blocks (5). The theme for North Carolina's team seems to be power, and Fricano certainly filled that role. Scoles was the only true first-year player to start for North Carolina, but she quickly proved she earned that slot. She tied with Treacy and Fricano to lead the team with eight blocks.
A 2015 All-America Honorable Mention, Treacy showed her worth as a leader and player. She formed a formidable combination with Sydnye Fields for some powerhouse defense at the net. The two combined for eight blocks.