Make it five wins in a row for UNC volleyball.

The Tar Heels earned another victory Wednesday night, defeating the NC State Wolfpack 3-1. Carolina won the home game’s first set 25-11 thanks to nine straight points at the start before dropping a tight second set to the Wolfpack, 22-25.

But head coach Joe Sagula’s team came roaring back with another emphatic set, winning the third 25-12 before closing the match out 25-22 in the fourth set.

First-year player Mabrey Shaffmaster continued her strong play, leading both teams with 19 kills on the night and a double-double by adding 11 assists. Wednesday’s match marked her 10th game of the year with double-digit kills. Meanwhile, graduate student Meghan Neelon tallied a season-best 50 assists for the Tar Heels and junior Karenna Wurl set a career-best number of digs with 25.

The win is UNC’s fourth consecutive victory over NC State, with Carolina leading the all-time series 91-32. It also moves the Tar Heels to 5-4 in conference play.

Sagula said he was proud of his team’s resilience following the second set and during a tight fourth set, as his team improved to 16 wins for the first time since 2016.

“I think the entire team has decided to stay aggressive in every part of the game,” the head coach said. “We’re aggressive on offense, aggressive on defense and we’re healthier. We almost have our full roster and that has helped us quite a bit. But the mentalities of these girls are to stay aggressive and take big swings at times. I think that mindset has put us in a good spot.”

Carolina’s week of facing in-state rivals continues on Friday, as the Tar Heels host the Duke Blue Devils. That game, which is also the team’s Spike Out Cancer match, is set to begin at 7 p.m.

 

Photo via Carolina Athletics/Jeffrey A. Camarati.

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