The North Carolina volleyball team (5-2, 5-2 ACC) continued its win streak, defeating Virginia (1-7, 0-7 ACC) on Saturday night 3-1 in the second to the last game of the season behind 22 kills from sophomore Parker Austin.
What happened?
The first set featured a back-and-forth battle between the two teams, with lots of kills delivered from both sides of the court. Austin dominated for North Carolina with seven of UNC’s 20 kills, and efforts from junior Destiny Cox with three kills and first-year Aziah Buckner with four kills helped elevate UNC’s game. After being tied at 19, the Tar Heels went on a 6-1 run to end the set.
UNC drew upon this momentum in the beginning of the second set, keeping a desperate Virginia looking for an answer. By UVA's second timeout of the set, North Carolina had taken an 18-8 lead with continued domination from Austin. The Cavaliers were never able to find their answer, and UNC finished the set 25-15, taking a 2-0 set lead during halftime.
Despite a Tar Heel momentum going into the half, Virginia was able to come back and take a 3-1 lead in the beginning of the third set. UNC was able to find their footing afterwards, going on a four point run forcing Virginia to use their first timeout of the set. The rest of the set shaped to be back-and-forth, similar to the first set. Virginia was able to take a three point lead after the midpoint of the set and forced UNC to take its first timeout at 17-14. Virginia held the lead until the end of the set, winning 25-23.
After a back-to-back start in the fourth set, UNC went on a late set run and found themselves ahead by five taking a timeout ahead 22-17. North Carolina maintained its set lead and closed out the set and match by winning the fourth set 25-20.
Who stood out?
Austin played her best match of the short season, almost reaching her season high in kills by the end of the second set and matching it in the beginning of the third. She was eventually able to tie her career high in kills by the end of the match with 22, and also put up five digs.
Cox and Buckner also continued both of their standout seasons, with Cox putting up 10 kills, two blocks and two digs, while Buckner put up 10 kills, two blocks and 13 digs.
