Playing its first ACC match of the spring season on Friday in Chapel Hill, the UNC volleyball team held on for a 3-2 victory over Syracuse in a five-set thriller (14-25, 25-18, 25-21, 19-25, 18-16).

Parker Austin led the way for the Tar Heels (8-3, 7-2 ACC) with a team-high 23 kills and 20 digs, while Chapel Hill native Kaya Merkler added 16 kills of her own.

UNC battled back after losing the first set in definitive fashion, winning the next two sets before Syracuse (4-5, 4-5 ACC) won the fourth set to force a winner-take-all fifth set.

Syracuse had match point two times during the final set, but the Tar Heels fought back each time and ultimately came out on top.

For the match, UNC had a .195 hitting percentage while Syracuse posted a similar number of .188 in the same category.

Up Next:

The Tar Heels return to the court on Saturday to host Clemson.

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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