Hurricanes Volleyball Holds Back UNC, 3-1
Oct. 18, 2008
Coral Gables, Fla. – Lane Carico and Genny Mayhew combined for 32 kills and 35 digs to help lead the University of Miami back from an early deficit to earn a 3-1 ACC volleyball victory (20-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23) on Saturday night over the visiting University of North Carolina at the James L. Knight Sports Complex in Coral Gables, Fla.
UM (19-2, 7-2 ACC) almost seems unstoppable at home this year as they posted their ninth victory of the season inside the Knight Sports Complex. Overall, the Hurricanes have won 12 consecutive matches at home, as well as six straight matches overall.
“Right now we’re just playing so well at home, and I think we do feed off the crowd,” stated head coach Nicole Lantagne Welch.
UNC (11-9, 5-4 ACC) took the opening set of the match, 25-20, hitting a .286 clip (18-4-49) while holding the `Canes to just .180 (14-5-50). In the set, Suzanne Haydel had five kills while fellow Tar Heels Courtney Johnston and Christine Vaughen supplied four kills apiece.
In the second set, UNC jumped on top 12-9 when Vaughen’s kill off the block of Lane Carico went wide for the Tar Heels score. Miami bounced back moments later with a 5-1 run sparked by Carico and Angelica Ellis to tie the set, 14-14.
The Tar Heels led 16-14 until Carico served four points for the Hurricanes with the help of three attack errors charged to UNC. That allowed the `Canes to go out in front, 19-16. They held on for the 25-21 edge to tie the match at one set apiece.
Miami trailed yet again midway through the third set, 9-7, until an 11-3 run pushed the Orange and Green out in front, 18-12. Assisting in the run for UM was Carico and setter Katie Gallagher. With Gallagher peeking over the net, she collected two kills off dig for the UM score.
UM would hold on, 25-19, to edge out in front for the match, 2-1.
The fourth set was as exciting as any other at the Knight Sports Complex this season.
With the `Canes leading 18-9 and seemingly cruising to victory, the Tar Heels went on a powerful 13-3 run started by a kill from Vaughen and a service ace from Johnston. UM also helped out the run, registering four errors and allowing yet another service ace during that critical stretch.
But Miami stayed resilient after falling behind 22-21, and scored back-to-back points from a service error charged to UNC and a kill from Mayhew off the block of UNC’s Johnston.
A kill from Carico finished the match, 25-23.
North Carolina played hard defense on the night as they put three players into double-digits for digs and recorded 10 team blocks. Brianna Eskola had 24 digs and Megan Owens added 20 of her own with three blocks (assisted). Vaughen led the Tar Heels with 14 kills and three blocks, while teammate Johnston posted 13 kills and nine digs.
The two-setter system for UNC seemed effective as Erica Behm led her team with 26 assists and Stephanie Jansma added 21 assists as well.
Miami was led by Carico’s 18 kills and Mayhew’s addition of 14 kills. Carico added 21 digs and Mayhew dug down for 14 of her own. Gallagher was not to be outdone as she registered a double-double as well with 43 assists and 16 digs.
It was Carico’s 10th double-double; Mayhew added her eighth; and Gallagher tallied her seventh of the year. For Gallagher, it was also the seventh time this year she has collected 40-plus assists in a match.
After hosting five consecutive matches at home, the `Canes head back out on the road next Friday, Oct. 24 for a trip to ACC foe Virginia. After that, they travel to Virginia Tech a day later to conclude their Virginia road trip.
