UNC women's volleyball overcomes losing skid

In two matches this weekend, the North Carolina volleyball team was able to finish strong after sluggish starts, ending a three-game skid. The comebacks sparked a 3-0 win against Clemson and a gutsy 3-2 Senior Day victory against Georgia Tech.

Accustomed to slow starts during the season, Tar Heel coach Joe Sagula was hardly surprised.

“We’ve been doing that all year long,” Sagula said. “We always start slow, so there’s been an emotional toll all year long…. It could have bitten us right now, but it didn’t.”

Christine Vaughen, who was honored on Senior Day along with Courtney Johnston and Suzanne Haydel, battled a stomach bug to lead UNC with 15 kills against Clemson and Georgia Tech.

“She’s always putting her heart into the game,” outside hitter Emily McGee said. “She’s always trying to work for everyone else.”

After battling through a 17-11 deficit in the first set, North Carolina took the second and third sets against Clemson, 25-18 and 25-20 respectively, to complete its first 3-0 sweep since Oct. 23.

“We were on (Friday), we played well,” Sagula said. “I haven’t seen a match passing that well from beginning to end in a while.”

On Sunday, the Tar Heels’ early slump lasted significantly longer. It wasn’t until the third set, with the Yellow Jackets leading two sets to none, that North Carolina sprang into action.

McGee had a performance emblematic of the match as a whole. Amassing only three kills in the first two sets, the sophomore finished with a team-high of 19.

“They are a really big blocking team,” McGee said. “I just had to get in the swing of it…. Our passing picked up a lot, which really helped the setters get me better balls to hit as well.”

As McGee’s day got better, so did the Tar Heels’, who never trailed in the third set. North Carolina went on to win the final three sets 25-23, 25-19 and 15-12.

Sagula received stellar defensive performances from Cora Harms and Kaylie Gibson, who combined for 48 digs — more than half the team total.

“They are the quickest athletes on the court,” Sagula said. “If they’re digging balls, we’re winning. Kaylie Gibson should be the best libero in the ACC.”

McGee attributed the comeback to strong communication and high energy.

“We’re a team that can beat teams just on our emotion when we’re all together,” McGee said.

Vaughen stressed the team’s resolve as a reason for its success throughout the season.

“I think this just shows the character and determination that this team has,” Vaughen said. “We always have that determination to bounce back, whether it’s match to match or in an individual match.”

The one negative for the Tar Heels was an injury to Johnston, who Sagula said may have aggravated the same knee in which she tore her ACL as a freshman.

“We dedicate this win to her,” Sagula said. “She wasn’t out there, but we need her.”

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.