Sept. 30, 2012
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina defeated the Georgia Tech volleyball team in straight-sets on Sunday (29-27, 25-22, 25-19) in Carmichael Arena. Georgia Tech (11-4, 3-2 ACC) was swept for the first time this season and has yet to win a road match, while UNC (13-2, 4-1) remains an undefeated 8-0 at home.
“Give credit to North Carolina – their playmakers stepped up and made big plays when they had to and we didn’t,” head coach Tonya Johnson said. “We have to learn in big matches like this that when the set is on the line we need to have players who want to step up and make big plays in the crunch time. We didn’t have that today.”
Seniors Bailey Hunter and Monique Mead each collected 10 kills and nine digs in the match, and freshman Chanell Clark-Bibbs added nine of her own. Clark-Bibbs hit a team-best .529 in the match and two blocks.
“I was really proud of Chanell’s play in her first collegiate start,” Johnson said. “I thought she did some really good things that she can continue to build on as the season progresses.”
UNC jumped out to a 4-1 lead to start the match and Tech had a hard time avoiding the block. The Tar Heels tallied eight blocks in the first game to Tech’s three. In addition, the Yellow Jackets caused more work for themselves with five service errors.
The Jackets battled back to within one point, 24-23, out of a 23-18 deficit. Clark Bibbs had one solo block and three of her five kills in the rally. Tech had two set-points in the game, but couldn’t hold on as UNC scored three-straight points to win 29-27. Clark-Bibbs hit .714 in the game and Jennifer Percy contributed three kills in seven attempts (.429).
UNC led the first half of the second set, which featured six tied scores. The teams’ traded the lead twice late in the game. The Yellow Jackets worked their way out of a 16-12 disadvantage to pull within two points at 17-15 and eventually tied the score 19-19. Clark-Bibbs gave Tech its first lead of the game, 21-20, to force a UNC timeout. The Tar Heels came out of the short break with three-straight points to take a 23-21 lead and win the game 25-22.
The Yellow Jackets fell behind in the third game, 9-6. A kill by Hunter, block by Annie Czarnecki and service ace by Kaleigh Colson tied the score at nine. UNC scored three unanswered points, followed by another game of catch up by Tech and the score was tied again 12-12. UNC won the next point and held the lead throughout the rest of the frame, winning on four-straight points, 25-19.
Georgia Tech is back in action Oct. 5 and 6 at O’Keefe Gymnasium. The Jackets host Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. on Friday, before facing Virginia on Saturday at 7 p.m.
