Three wins over Duke in one season? Not too shabby for the UNC volleyball team. The Tar Heels earned their 21st victory of the season Friday night by beating the Blue Devils in five sets in Durham, their third win of the year over their arch rivals.

The teams alternated set victories throughout the match, with UNC taking close decisions in sets one and three, and the Blue Devils edging Carolina in sets two and four. Duke never led in the first frame after UNC took the first three points, with big kills from Mabrey Shaffmaster, Kaya Merkler and Amanda Phegley getting the job done for the Tar Heels down the stretch. UNC fought off two set points in the second set to even the score at 24-24, but two straight points from the Blue Devils meant the frame went the way of the hosts.

The third set strongly resembled the first, with Carolina jumping out to a lead and then keeping Duke at arm’s length throughout. The set got a little too close for comfort for the Tar Heels after the Blue Devils denied UNC on five straight set points, but Shaffmaster finally shut the door for a 25-22 victory.

Duke turned the tables in the fourth set, taking control with a 5-1 run midway through and fighting off every Carolina comeback attempt. UNC closed to within 20-19 but could get no closer, dropping the set 25-21 and sending the match to a first-to-15 fifth set.

With little room for error, Carolina came out hot in the fifth and never looked back, winning nine of the first 13 points on the strength of three kills from Shaffmaster. More offense from Nia Parker-Robinson earned Carolina a match point, which Meghan Neelon converted in style with a service ace. The fifth set went the way of the Tar Heels by a 15-9 score. Carolina has now won seven of their past eight meetings with Duke.

For the match, Shaffmaster set a career-high with 27 kills. Parker-Robinson and Merkler followed with 17 and 14 kills, respectively. Neelon racked up a match-high 53 assists.

Head coach Joe Sagula’s team finishes the regular season with a 21-8 record, their best mark since the 2016 team went 29-4. At 10-8 in ACC play, they are tied for sixth in the conference standings with Notre Dame. Though there is not an ACC Tournament in volleyball, the Tar Heels are in good shape to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The bids will be announced Sunday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

 

Featured image via Duke Athletics

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