Miami Volleyball Drops 3-1 Decision to UNC
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Miami volleyball team fell to North Carolina, 3-1, on Veteran’s Day at Carmichael Arena.
Miami (13-10, 9-7 ACC) forced a four-set match after recording a match-high .200 attack percentage in the second, but North Carolina’s 16 kills in the fourth set was too much for the Canes to overcome as the Tar Heels won, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20, 25-21.
UNC (7-17, 3-12 ACC) took the 1-0 lead with a dominating .400 attack percentage courtesy of an early 7-0 advantage. Six of the Tar Heels recorded at least one kill in the first and outhit the Hurricanes 14 kills to 8. Senior Kolby Bird tied her season-high in aces with three on her first three attempts of the match and would finish with four.
Miami’s late four-point rally cut the Tar Heels’ lead to four, 23-19, after two UNC errors, Bridget Wallenberger’s second block and an ace by freshman Chloe Brown. The Canes staved off one set point but the Tar Heels took the set, 25-20, off a Miami service error.
The Canes tied the match at one, recording 16 kills with both Bird and Elizaveta Lukianova each recording five. Miami held two five-point leads with the later at 18-13 before a Tar Heels’ four-point run tied the set at 20. Three Canes kills, an ace by Haley Templeton and an UNC error gave Miami the 25-23 set win.
Outside hitter Lukianova led the Canes in the third with five kills and a .364 attack percentage. The Canes recorded six blocks and 19 digs but five errors helped the struggling Tar Heels offense to a 25-20 set win.
Wallenberger’s sixth block of the match in the fourth set gave the junior transfer her 100th of the season, leading the Canes with 101 after 23 matches. Wallenberger registered three of the Canes 10 blocks in the fourth while also recording one kill. Lukianova again the led the Canes with five kills, totaling a team-high 16.
Templeton recorded the lone double-double for the Canes with 36 assists and 15 digs. The ACC leading server in aces also recorded one, totaling 35 after today’s match.
UNC took the final four points of the set to take the match in the 25-21 set win.
Miami hosts No. 10 Pitt on Sunday, Nov. 11, for Senior Day. Bird and Templeton will be honored prior to the final home match of the season. Pitt travels to Florida State on Friday before heading to Coral Gables with a ACC-best 13-1 record and a 26-1 overall mark.
For a complete look at the Hurricanes’ 2018 schedule, click here.
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