UNC dropped a four-set match at No. 1 Nebraska Friday night but came back and beat Florida Gulf Coast the next day in four sets, splitting a weekend event in Lincoln.

In the weekend’s first matchup against the top-ranked team in the nation, the Cornhuskers flexed their muscles in a 25-14 first set win. But Carolina came back strong in the second set, hanging tough with the Huskers and using a 5-0 run late in the frame to flip an 18-17 deficit into a 22-18 lead. The Tar Heels eventually saw the set out in hostile territory, clinching the 25-21 win with a Chelsea Thorpe kill. It was just the second time all season a team had won a set against Nebraska.

UNC continued to play well in the third set, scoring four unanswered points to take an early 6-3 advantage. The Tar Heels led 12-8 later on, but the Huskers won six of the next seven points to take the lead back. UNC wouldn’t lead again for the rest of the match, as Nebraska won 25-21 in the third set and 25-10 in a dominant fourth to win the match. The Huskers are undefeated on the season.

The next day against Florida Gulf Coast, UNC fell behind early in the first set but flipped the scoreboard with a 6-0 run to take an 11-8 lead. The Tar Heels would stay in front for the remainder of the set despite a strong push from the Eagles, closing it out thanks to a Jackie Taylor kill and a FGCU attacking error on set point.

UNC blew open a close second set late, scoring eight unanswered points after the Eagles had closed to within 16-15. A Taylor kill closed out the 25-16 win, putting Carolina one set away from victory in the match. FGCU took the third set 25-20, but UNC closed out the match at the second time of asking in the fourth with a 25-22 win. Bridget Malone, daughter of UNC men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone, provided the match-winning kill. Safi Hampton led the way with 12 kills on the day for the Tar Heels, with Thorpe and Taylor not far behind at nine apiece.

Carolina is now 5-3 on the season. The Tar Heels will be back in action when they visit NC State in Raleigh Friday, Sep. 25 at 7 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Volleyball on Twitter

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