The UNC volleyball program’s most successful season in five years came to an end Friday night in Columbus, OH, as the Tar Heels fell to Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Volunteers won the first two sets, then put Carolina away in the fourth to seal the match.

UNC fought hard for the entire match, using a 6-1 run in the first set to slice a 19-12 Volunteer lead down to 20-18, but could never quite get over the hump. Tennessee used the momentum from the first set in the second, winning eight of the first 11 points and not letting Carolina build any comeback attempt.

The Tar Heels performed much better in the third set, ripping off a 7-1 run to take a 13-9 lead over the Volunteers. Tennessee used a 9-2 run of their own to get within two points of a sweep over Carolina, but three clutch kills from ACC Freshman of the Year Mabrey Shaffmaster ensured UNC’s season would last just a little bit longer. She keyed a 5-1 Tar Heel run to close out the set, a 26-24 Carolina victory.

Unfortunately for UNC, the fourth set got off to a rough start, with the Volunteers winning 10 of the first 12 points. It proved an insurmountable deficit for head coach Joe Sagula’s team, though the Tar Heels fought to within 18-15 before a 7-0 Tennessee run put the match to bed.

Carolina ends the 2021 season 21-9. The loss to Tennessee was their first on a neutral court this season.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications

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