Volleyball continues third-set streak

The No. 14 North Carolina volleyball team found itself in a familiar position Friday against Notre Dame — playing from behind in the third set.

But just as they did in their victory against N.C. State Wednesday, the Tar Heels didn’t flinch, going on to win the set 25-22 and taking the match in straight sets (25-19, 25-18, 25-22).

UNC smashed aces at pivotal points throughout the match, something coach Joe Sagula said was a key factor in pushing the Tar Heels to 13-0, improving upon the program’s best start in school history.

“The tale of the match was really our serving,” Sagula said. “The first two sets were close … and then we were able to pull away because our serving pressure did enough to get them out of their game.”

UNC’s serving pressure provided its biggest impact in the third set, as the Tar Heels were staring down an 18-14 deficit. After a kill from junior Lauren Adkins made it 18-15, graduate student Jovana Bjelica stepped up to the service line and crushed an ace to cut the lead to two.

And after trading points to make the score 19-17, sophomore defensive specialist Heather Gearhart substituted in to serve. And though Gearhart is pint-sized for a collegiate volleyball player at 5-foot-5, her serve packs a powerful punch.

She reeled off three consecutive aces, putting UNC ahead to stay.

“Heather Gearhart, little unsung hero,” he said. “That was the turning point of the third set no question, how well she served.”

Senior opposite hitter Kayla Berringer contributed six kills on the day, including two back-to-back big swings late in the third to help put the match away. She said the team has a quiet confidence, even when they fall behind.

“We just have a confidence in any game, it doesn’t matter what set it is, we know that we can come back and win,” she said. “We have confidence in each other as hitters, as defense, in all of our abilities. Each player on the team can get the job done at any time.”

Bjelica led UNC in kills with 16, helping to give Notre Dame a rude welcoming in the Irish’s first ever ACC game. The graduate student from Serbia has become an integral part of the Tar Heel’s attack. And after playing six games in Carmichael arena, she said she’s starting to understand what a true home court advantage is all about.

“I like the fans, I like the crowd, I like everything here,” she said. “Everything is great.”

Berringer has had four years to enjoy Carmichael and Chapel Hill, during which one thing has always eluded her — an ACC championship. But with this team’s historic start to the season, she said her team is laser-focused on that goal.

“There’s not a doubt in anyone’s mind we’re going to go out and win every match, we just have that confidence,” she said. “We’re really trying to reach our goal of winning an ACC championship.

“It’s overdue, it’s way overdue.”

sports@dailytarheel.com