Despite some close scoring, the North Carolina volleyball team defeated N.C. State 3-0 in Raleigh on Friday night to bring its record to 3-2 this season.
What happened?
N.C. State took the lead to start the first set and held onto it during close back-and-forth play. Consecutive kills by first-year Maylen Mitrovich and junior Destiny Cox then allowed UNC to overtake N.C. State and make the score 9-8. UNC maintained the lead and eventually stretched it out to 21-14 after several bouts of unanswered points. Late in the set, N.C. State attempted to close the gap, but fell short as an N.C. State service error cemented a 25-20 UNC set victory.
North Carolina took the first point of the second set, and two kills by sophomore Carly Peck contributed to a 6-3 UNC lead. N.C. State responded with 4 consecutive points to overtake the Tar Heels, but could not hold on as UNC brought the score to 10-7. A service ace by first-year Aziah Buckner brought the UNC lead to 15-11, and UNC held a narrow lead until N.C. State tied the set at 17-17. UNC went up 21-17 after an ace by redshirt first-year Olivia Diaz and went on to win the set 25-20.
The third set started off with an N.C. State point, but the lead was tilted in UNC’s favor consistently as the set continued. There was never more than a three-point difference separating the teams until a kill by Peck brought the score to 12-8. The close UNC lead continued until N.C. State tied the game at 14-14.
A kill from Buckner and two consecutive kills by first-year Kaya Merkler helped bring the Tar Heels' lead to 20-16 before UNC finished the set with a 25-18 victory.
“To win a match 3-0 for this team, a young team, I think that’s a really good statement,” UNC head coach Joe Sagula said.
Who stood out?
Phegley led the team with eight kills, including one to end the third set and seal a win for the Tar Heels. Sophomore Karenna Wurl had 17 digs, while Mitrovich contributed 20 assists to the win.
