UNC volleyball perseveres for comeback win over No. 23 Florida State

After starting off the year 1-7, the North Carolina volleyball team is finally putting things together.

The Tar Heels proved their resilience and grit against No. 23 Florida State on Sunday, overcoming a two-set deficit to win their fourth straight game. They started slow, but were able to win three consecutive sets to move to 4-2 in the ACC and get their first win over a ranked team since 2016. 

A closely contested first set that had 14 ties saw the Tar Heels eventually fall to the Seminoles, 26-24. FSU then won the second set, 25-20, and UNC was sent to the break searching for answers.

“The first two sets today seemed like we were on the road,” head coach Joe Sagula said. “We were pretty boring. We were pretty quiet, but I told them we need to provide the energy, and so I think we have a sense of what it’s going to take. We need to have that emotional investment."

And the Tar Heels did just that. 

It began in the third period, when UNC’s Aristea Tontai scored the first point in the third set off a kill to get the momentum started. 

After that, the match quickly became the Lauren Harrison show. She recorded five kills in that set alone, helping put her team on the board with a 25-21 win. In the fourth set, UNC scrapped its way to a 14-9 lead that led to a 25-23 win. 

The Tar Heels were now just 15 points away from an upset victory.

Then, North Carolina's effort and energy paid off for good. The Tar Heels were able to turn a 10-6 lead into a match-deciding win in the last set, 15-10, to secure the upset. 

"I'm proud of this team and how they stayed together at a time when you're down 0-2 against a ranked opponent," Sagula said. "We've struggled with Florida State at times, and they're a really good team. We showed maturity. Where we've come in a month is amazing."

On Sunday, Harrison finished with 24 kills and 27.5 points scored. She also didn't commit a single serving or receiving error and posted five blocks, two of those being solo blocks. After sitting out the entirety of last season with an injury, the redshirt first-year broke two single-match personal records for the third time in about two weeks. 

Harrison attributed her success to her teammates and the coaching staff for giving her confidence in her ability to kill.

"I was just making sure I follow the plan we worked on in practice and working with my teammates to get points," Harrison said. "It hasn't been easy, but they've always been there for me."

Others have noticed her performance, too, as Harrison was announced as the ACC Player of the Week on Monday. 

“Every day she gets better,” Sagula said. “When the ball goes up to Lauren Harrison, everybody on this team feels very confident that she will probably end up getting a kill.” 

After a disappointing start to the season, Harrison and her Tar Heel teammates seem to have found their groove. Time will tell if they have what it takes to go on the road and beat No. 3 Pittsburgh on Friday. 

“We’re finally figuring out what it takes to win and finding what works,” said senior Skylar Wine, who finished with 16 kills of her own. “We’re just going to keep improving.”

@macyemeyer

@DTHSports | sports@dailytarheel.com