North Carolina swept WVU’s women’s volleyball team in the first game of the Duke/North Carolina Tournament Thursday night, sending the Mountaineers to an even 2-2 season record.
After breaking an early 4-4 tie in the first set, UNC pulled ahead and never lost the lead. Led by outside hitters Emani’ Foster and Mabrey Shaffmaster, who combined for 10 kills in the set, the Tar Heels capitalized on West Virginia’s several early service errors and defensive struggles to win the set 25-17.
West Virginia head coach Reed Sunahara called a timeout at 11-7 in the set, but the Mountaineers’ were unable to stop the Tar Heels momentum. Sunahara called for a coach’s challenge not long after the timeout, but the challenge was unsuccessful.
The Tar Heels carried the momentum into the second set, as Emani’ Foster got a strong kill off of a WVU overpass for the first point of the set. UNC started the second set with a 10-3 lead over the Mountaineers.
Down seven, though, West Virginia showed signs of life, rallying to an 11 point total, signaling a UNC timeout. The Mountaineers, led heavily by underclassmen Maddy McGath (freshman middle blocker) and Lauren Bodily (sophomore right side) brought the Tar Heels’ lead to 18-16 in the second set.
Nevertheless, UNC head coach Mike Schall’s timeout here proved more effective than Sunahara’s from the previous set, and the Tar Heels finished the set 25-18 thanks to multiple kills and blocks from outside hitters Emani’ Foster and Romani Thurman.
West Virginia carried the momentum they found in the second set into the third to avoid another slow start. With three kills in four points, sophomore MB Tierney Jackson brought WVU to a 9-8 lead early. With McGath, Jackson, and sophomore OH Bailey Miller racking up points for the Mountaineers and redshirt senior Lauren DeLo from Rutgers providing leadership at the setter position, WVU maintained a lead and kept the score close throughout the third set.
The Mountaineers continued to fight after North Carolina’s five point run brought the score to 18-15. After a swiftly called UNC timeout, though, prompted by a Tierney Jackson block bringing the lead within two, the Tar Heels won the match with another Emani’ Foster kill.
North Carolina’s record now stands at 3-1 and will play Loyola Maryland on Saturday to continue the tournament. As for WVU, they play Loyola at 4 p.m. on Friday and Duke at the same time Saturday to finish the three game set in North Carolina.
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