A valiant comeback effort fell just short for the UNC volleyball team Friday night, as they couldn’t close out a deciding fifth set against Miami and fell, three sets to two.

The Hurricanes won close decisions in the first two frames, including a 29-27 first set win in which Carolina had five set points. The two teams sat tied at 19-19 in the second set before a 6-1 Hurricanes run put Miami up two sets to one, a set away from taking the match.

But head coach Joe Sagula rallied his team, and the Tar Heels came out hot in the third, using an extended 13-7 run to turn a 6-6 tie into a 19-13 advantage. Carolina would hold that lead for a 25-18 win in the third set.

Miami looked ready to close UNC out in the fourth, leading 12-8 early, but clutch plays from Emily Zinger led the Tar Heels further along the comeback trail. Three kills and a block from Zinger contributed to a 9-2 Carolina run to turn the tide of the frame. The Tar Heels wouldn’t relinquish their lead and took the set, 25-20, to even the match up at two sets apiece.

In the first-to-15 fifth set, four kills from Nia Parker-Robinson had the match deadlocked at 12-12, but three unanswered points from the Hurricanes closed out the marathon match, and sent Carolina to its third straight ACC loss. In each of the three losses, the Tar Heels have won at least one set. Parker-Robinson led all players with 24 kills on the night, with Mabrey Shaffmaster not far behind with 21.

UNC will look to turn its fortunes around when they visit Florida State on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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