The 25th-ranked UNC women’s volleyball team collected a 3-1 loss and a 3-1 win at Nebraska this weekend, giving it a 5-3 record heading into ACC play.
The Tar Heels opened with the top-ranked Huskers on Friday before returning to the Devaney Center to face FGCU on Saturday. Playing in a true road environment for the third time this season, they lost set one 25-14 but rebounded to take the set two 25-20 – just the second set Nebraska has lost this season. They kept it close in set three, ultimately losing 25-21, but couldn’t hang with the Huskers in set four, losing 25-10.
Carolina had a .123 hitting percentage compared to Nebraska’s .286 and recorded 10 blocks – the most against the Huskers this season – to Nebraska’s nine. Redshirt senior Chelsea Thorpe led all players with 14 kills.
Against FGCU, the Tar Heels won the first two sets 25-21 and 25-16 before dropping set three 25-20. The Eagles led 19-18 in set four, but Carolina won six of the next seven points and took the set 25-22.
UNC fared much better offensively on Saturday, recording a .317 hitting percentage as FGCU posted a .196. The Tar Heels had 11 blocks to the Eagles’ nine. Senior Safi Hampton led Carolina with 12 kills, and junior Jackie Taylor put up a pair of season highs with nine kills and nine blocks.
The Tar Heels open ACC play at NC State on Friday at 7:00 PM ET. The match will be broadcast on ACCNX.
