Energy leads UNC volleyball past NC State

RALEIGH — The North Carolina volleyball team watched as freshman setter Abigail Curry’s service ace forcefully hit the ground for a 10-point lead against N.C. State midway through the second set Wednesday.

The referee immediately blew his whistle, and each team receded to its respective bench for what would be the beginning of two starkly different timeout talks.

The Tar Heels had just clinched the first set 25-17 and were a mere two points away from tripling the Wolfpack’s point total midway through the second set.

N.C. State volleyball coach Bryan Bunn’s distress was evident by the look across his face.

“Let’s go,” he said. “There’s no emotion out there right now.”

Meanwhile, North Carolina volleyball coach Joe Sagula couldn’t have had a more foreign dilemma. His team was animated — excited — in the Tar Heels’ 3-0 sweep.

His message was simpler.

“Play with discipline,” he said.

“Stay focused.”

And that’s just what his No. 14 team did en route to its 25th win of the season.

UNC took the match (25-17, 25-14, 25-20) and defeated the Wolfpack in its last regular-season home contest.

The Tar Heels were led offensively by their veterans, particularly graduate student Jovana Bjelica, who played in Reynolds Coliseum for the first time in her career Wednesday.

Bjelica has been fighting back injuries all season, but didn’t allow them to faze her as she put together a nine-kill, 12-dig and three-service ace performance.

“Honestly, I have no idea (what the injuries are),” she said.

“It’s some complicated medical words and I’m just like, ‘You know what? Whatever. Tell me what I need to do and I’ll do that.’”

Bjelica’s 12 digs were a product of Sagula’s decision to play her in the back row, as well as the front row, beginning in the fourth set of UNC’s matchup with Florida State earlier in the month.

It’s a duty she embraces.

“That was my role my whole life and it was weird for me not playing that … I had to adjust to that one,” she said.

“This comes naturally. This is something that I’ve done my whole career.”

Senior Kayla Berringer said the victory comes at a crucial time for the Tar Heels, who dropped their last two road games in Florida, and who also lost the match at N.C. State last season.

The difference between this year and last year?

“There was so much more confidence on the court. There was an ease about the game,” she said.

“They get a point? No big deal. We’re coming back, we’re gonna make a run next time.”

Berringer, who had three kills on six attacks, credited the team’s middle blockers for their intimidating presence. As a team UNC out-blocked N.C. State 10.5 to 4.

Berringer was thrilled to leave her mark in Reynolds Coliseum for the last time in her career — especially after walking away empty-handed last season.

“I am extremely happy. We went out there and played awesome tonight,” she said.

“And we killed State on their home floor.”

sports@dailytarheel.com