Carolina earned its biggest regular-season win of head coach Mike Schall’s tenure Tuesday night in Carmichael Arena, sweeping No. 11 Florida in three sets as part of the ACC-SEC Showdown at the Net.
UNC took the lead midway through the opening set thanks to kills from Laynie Smith and Hailey Pearce. The lead grew to as large as five at 18-13, but the Tar Heels had to withstand a pair of Gator runs to close out the set. Florida closed to within one point at 18-17, then evened the set up at 23-23 after UNC had led 23-18. That was when Safi Hampton came through in the clutch, sending home two kills in a row to close out the set, 25-23, and give Carolina the advantage in the match.
UNC used that momentum to get off to a flying start in the second set, leading by as many as 11 points at 18-7. The Gators never got closer than 20-15, and Carolina clinched the second set 25-18 to move one set away from victory.
Florida led for much of the early part of the third set, going in front 12-8 after a Carolina service error. But the Tar Heels won 11 of the next 14 points to take their largest lead of the set at 19-15, capped by an ace from Hampton. UNC wouldn’t give the lead back, using kills from Jackie Taylor and Chelsea Thorpe to wrap up the set, 25-21.
Hampton led all players with 11 kills, while Pearce added 10 and Thorpe finished with seven. Zoe Behrendt collected 16 assists, nearly half of Carolina’s 34 as a team.
With the win, UNC is now 5-0 on the season and has now defeated ranked foes in consecutive seasons under Schall. Up next for the Tar Heels is another SEC opponent, as UNC will travel south to face South Carolina in Columbia Friday at 6 p.m. The Gamecocks swept the Tar Heels last season.
Featured image via UNC Volleyball on Twitter
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