The UNC volleyball team hosted Michigan State and Michigan in Carmichael Arena last weekend for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Tar Heels emerged from the two-day event with a 1-1 record, topping the Spartans and falling to the Wolverines.

On Friday against Michigan State, Carolina recovered from an early 5-0 hole in the first set and used a late 8-1 run to pull away for the 25-16 win. The Tar Heels were the ones to jump out to an early lead in the second, and they were able to hold off a Spartan comeback by winning the final five points of the set after Michigan State closed to within 20-19.

UNC would have to work overtime to earn the sweep. The Tar Heels earned themselves two match points at 24-22, but let both slip away. The Spartans then had set points at 26-25 and 27-26, but both were denied by kills from Charley Niego. Niego’s second kill jumpstarted a 3-0 match-clinching run, and a service ace from Maddy May sealed the 29-27 win. Niego’s 15 kills were most on the team.

Saturday’s match with Michigan was competitive throughout, but the Tar Heels were on the wrong end of three tight sets. The Wolverines won the final four points of the first set to win 25-20, then broke a 23-23 tie in the second by winning three of the final four points. Carolina never led in the third, and though the Tar Heels fought off four match points and closed to within 24-23, a service error gave Michigan the sweep.

Carolina is now 5-3 on the season. The team will travel to Richmond this weekend for the three-match VCU invitational. The Tar Heels play two matches on Friday: one in the morning against Old Dominion, and a true road test with VCU that night. The event concludes with a match against UMBC the following Saturday.

 

Featured image via UNC Volleyball on Twitter

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