A dominant first set win wasn’t enough for the UNC volleyball team Sunday afternoon against Louisville, as the visiting Cardinals won three straight sets afterward to take the match and remain undefeated.

Louisville, ranked No. 2 in the country, is now 23-0 on the season, while the Tar Heels fell to 18-7.

Carolina played some of its best volleyball of the year in the first set, taking five of the first six points and never trailing. Nia Parker-Robinson, Mabrey Shaffmaster, Kaya Merkler and Skyy Howard all contributed kills during the frame, a 25-14 win for the Tar Heels.

But for as good as Carolina looked in the opening stages, the Cardinals looked even better afterward. Louisville took the first five points of the second set and ended it with seven straight in a 25-11 win. A 10-1 run in the third set turned a 10-10 tie into a 21-11 advantage, which Louisville turned into a 25-18 win. Another 6-1 run in the fourth gave the Cardinals a lead which they wouldn’t give up. UNC fought back to within 20-17, but couldn’t quite get over the hump. The Tar Heels didn’t hold a single lead after their first set win.

With their toughest stretch of the season now behind them, the volleyball team will play three of their four remaining matches on the road. First up is a visit to Virginia Tech on Friday afternoon, as Carolina vies to secure a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.

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