The UNC volleyball team (8-1) won a back-and-forth game against Michigan State (7-4), 3-1, on Sunday afternoon in Carmichael Arena to go 2-0 in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
North Carolina sophomore setter Zoe Behrendt got the first serve ace, as Michigan State hit the ball out of bounds. After trading a few points, the Tar Heels went on a four point run to make the score 7-3.
“Starting off strong is super important,” Behrendt said. “Setting the tone for the entire game, I think it is in the first couple points.”
After a Michigan State out of bounds serve, UNC got the point to gain back a four point lead, which they extended after junior libero Maddy May ran into the bench to save the ball and Michigan State had a bad set.
Sophomore outside hitter Safi Hampton got the kill off of a Behrendt set after senior outside hitter Mabrey Shaffmaster got the dig to make the score 23-17. The Tar Heels gave up the next point, but a Michigan State serve out of bounds and a shot into the net gave UNC the first set, 25-18.
After graduate outside hitter Emani’ Foster got the kill on a long rally to tie the score at 5-5 in the second set, the Tar Heels allowed several Michigan State points, including two in a row off of blocks at the net.
“I was just coming in thinking what can I do to help the team and get us back on top, get us in a good groove,” Foster said. “And I think that helped us, especially when we were in bad situations, just keeping the ball up.”
But Foster got North Carolina back in the set with a long kill, and a Michigan State miscommunication tied the set at 9-9. The Tar Heels were unable to keep up, though, allowing Michigan State to go on a 14-7 run to shore up the second set, including three UNC errors.
North Carolina started the third set off strong, getting a dig on the first point that led to a Michigan State out of bounds error. The set was back and forth for a while, with neither team having more than a one point lead for several minutes.
