UNC volleyball drops two-of-three matches in Buffs Invitational

The North Carolina volleyball team (3-5) participated in the Buffs Invitational in Boulder, Colo., this weekend. The Tar Heels played a total of three matches, beating Oklahoma on Friday, but falling to No. 24 Colorado and Georgia in subsequent days.

Game One

The Tar Heels opened the weekend against the Sooners on Friday afternoon. North Carolina came out strong and won the first set, 26-24, as the two teams exchanged points until the very end. Oklahoma pulled away in the following sets, winning 25-20 and 25-21. After Oklahoma broke a 7-7 tie in the third set, North Carolina failed to take the lead again that set.

The Tar Heels dominated the fourth set, winning 25-16 and forcing a fifth frame. UNC carried the momentum over from the fourth set, and secured the victory by winning the fifth set, 17-15. First-year Ava Bell was crucial in closing out the game as she contributed a kill and an ace in the last three points. 

Along with first-year Destiny Cox’s 25 kills on the game, head coach Joe Sagula added that redshirt sophomores Katharine Esterley and Hunter Atherton were the “glue that held us together and helped will our team to win.” 

Game Two

North Carolina faced a multitude of problems on Saturday, including an inability to generate offense. The Tar Heels only had 29 kills on the day, compared to 70 in their win against Oklahoma. North Carolina dropped the first set, 25-14, and never held the lead. Colorado continued to ride its momentum through the next two sets as it won them, 25-18, and 25-20. 

The duo of Esterley and Atherton were again a bright spot in the otherwise disappointing straight-set loss. Esterley followed up a strong performance against Oklahoma with a team-high nine kills and three blocks, while Atherton added 23 assists. 

Game Three

Although North Carolina did better on Sunday than it did on Saturday, it still struggled throughout the match. Sagula expressed concern over “too many unforced errors” in the loss. UNC dropped the two first sets quickly, at 25-17, and 25-21. In the first set, the Bulldogs and Tar Heels traded the lead several times before Georgia ran away with it. 

Then, in the second set, UNC was down only 20-19, before Georgia won five of the last seven points to take the set. 

The Tar Heels rallied back from the slow start and won the third set, 25-22, but were not able to force a fifth set as they dropped the fourth set, 25-17. They showed improvement from Saturday, getting 52 kills and winning a set on the day.

When do they play next?

The Tar Heels will play North Dakota State on Friday in Chapel Hill, and then Duke in what is officially a non-conference match on Sunday. Official ACC play commences on Sept. 21, as the Tar Heels look to gain experience and build confidence heading into the main stretch of the season.

“We’ve shown glimpses of greatness,” Sagula said. “The question is now can we develop consistency?”

@keeganwill

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