UNC volleyball sweeps two Michigan teams

Paige Neuenfeldt might not have been in Chapel Hill for Family Weekend, but the Michigan native still had a homecoming of her own.

Even the boy she used to babysit was able to witness the No. 20 North Carolina volleyball team compete in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.

And Neuenfeldt and the Tar Heels didn’t disappoint — going 2-0 after sweeping both No. 14 Michigan State (4-2, 0-0 Big Ten) on Friday and Michigan (3-2, 0-0 Big Ten) on Saturday.

“It was a really big accomplishment against two really good teams with great programs, great history,” said coach Joe Sagula, who celebrated his 700th win in the 2013 season.

“I couldn’t be any happier with where we are in this point in the season.”

On Friday, the Tar Heels and Neuenfeldt, a middle blocker, opened up tournament play against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich.

Things started off close between the Tar Heels and Spartans in the first set until UNC eventually took an eight-point lead and went on to win the set 25-17.

In the second set, UNC (4-1, 0-0 ACC) cruised to a 25-20 victory.

The tone of the game changed in the third set when the Spartans opened with a 11-8 lead.

In her return home, though, Neuenfeldt brought the Tar Heels back, serving for three consecutive points, which included two service aces.

The Tar Heels would tie the score 17-17 and later go on to win 25-22 with a block from middle blocker Victoria McPherson and outside hitter Leigh Andrew to win match point.

“It’s great to beat such a great team,” McPherson said. “I think that it was more of how we played and how we took care of things on our side of the net.”

The Tar Heels traveled to Ann Arbor, Mich., on Saturday for their final ACC-Big Ten Challenge game against Michigan.

UNC cruised in the first set to win 25-16.

Michigan started the second set with a 6-2 lead, but after several runs by both teams, UNC was still down late.

For the second day in a row, Neuenfeldt swung the momentum in UNC’s favor with a key block assist alongside Andrew.

Despite a late effort by the Wolverines, that block contributed to the Tar Heels’ 26-24 win in the second set Saturday.

The Wolverines put up another fight in the third set.

While Michigan had two set points, a kill from Neuenfeldt tied the score 25-25.

The Tar Heels took the final set 27-25. Outside hitter Lauren McAdoo and Andrew combined for 26 kills, while Neuenfeldt and McPherson led UNC in block assists in the match, with seven and six respectively.

McAdoo, who had 13 kills against Michigan State and 15 kills against Michigan, said going 2-0 this weekend — especially against two powerful teams — helped boost the team’s confidence.

“The Big Ten is a huge volleyball conference,” McAdoo said. “And I think for us to come out with two wins against two big teams this weekend was awesome for the ACC and for North Carolina.”

sports@dailytarheel.com