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The Daily Tar Heel

UNC volleyball defeats Georgia Southern in three sets in season opener

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.

When was it decided?

It would be hard to call Friday's result a surprise, as UNC is the ACC preseason favorite for the third straight year. After establishing a lead in the first couple points against Georgia Southern, the Tar Heels did not trail or tie the Eagles for the rest of the first set. Sure, the second set was closer, but not close enough for a spectator to entertain doubts.

But it wasn't just the score, or individual players, that stood out in the game. UNC tallied just eight attack errors throughout the three sets. By contrast, Georgia Southern committed 24 attack errors. That precision is a good sign for the Tar Heels as they prepare for conference play.

Why does it matter?

On Friday, the Tar Heels sent an important message: They are worth the hype. The all-star recruiting class, the powerful seniors, the preseason rankings — it all shows on the court. The season opener asserted that this will not be an easy team to beat. With the victory, the Tar Heels have completed a crucial step in returning to the dominance that gave them an ACC Championship two seasons ago.

Where do they play next?

The Tar Heels continue the Penn State Classic with games against West Virginia and Penn State on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.

@rblakerich_

sports@dailytarheel.com

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