Canes Take Down Tar Heels in First ACC Road Win

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Miami volleyball team registered a 3-1 victory over North Carolina Friday night at Carmichael Arena for its first conference road win of the season. 

Miami (9-5, 2-1 ACC) jumped out to an early advantage with a commanding 25-14 victory in the opening set. The Tar Heels evened the match, 1-1, taking set two 25-20, before the Canes took back control, winning the next two sets 25-20 and 25-23, respectively, to secure the win.

Redshirt junior Angela Grieve led Miami with a season-high 21 kills.

“I like the way we competed tonight,” Miami head coach Jose “Keno” Gandara said after the victory. “We were focused and composed from start to finish. North Carolina put a lot of pressure on our passers but we hung in there and Savannah (Vach) was able to run our offense as planned.”

Looking to extend the match, the Tar Heels (9-5, 1-2 ACC) took a 21-17 lead in the fourth set. But the Canes clawed back, winning the next seven points to take a 24-21 lead. 

Grieve would eventually seal the victory with a kill to win a back-and-forth fourth set – which featured eight ties and three lead changes – 25-23, and the match 3-1.

“I think tonight we kept our composure in high-stress situations and played well as a team,” Grieve said. “Things are starting to come together and I’m proud of this big road win.”

Sophomore Mabrey Shaffmaster paced the Carolina offense with 17 kills, while junior Kaya Merkler and graduate student Charley Niego added 11 kills each.

For Miami, sophomore Peyman Yardimci chipped in 14 kills hitting .423% while freshman Flormarie Heredia Colon added 10 kills.

Miami is back in action Sunday, Oct. 2 when it takes on NC State at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, NC. First serve is set for 2 p.m., and the match will air on ACC Network.

To keep up with the University of Miami volleyball team on social media, follow @CanesVB on Twitter and Facebook, as well as @Canes_VB on Instagram.