The No. 25 North Carolina women’s volleyball (18-2, 10-1 ACC) team defeated Clemson (8-14, 0-11 ACC), 3-1, on Friday night in Carmichael Arena.
The Tar Heels dominated the match from the beginning. After the first point went to Clemson for a net violation, UNC quickly rallied with a 6-1 lead before the Tigers called their first timeout. One of those points was an ace by senior outside hitter Mabrey Shaffmaster.
Clemson came out of the timeout with the first point, and the team fought its way back by capitalizing on UNC's error and using it as momentum, making the game 9-7.
The Tar Heels found confidence after an ace by sophomore outside hitter Safi Hampton. But the Tigers did not back down. They battled to the end of the first set with alternating points including two Clemson net errors and a Shaffmaster out-of-bounds serve.
A big-time kill from Hampton and a successful challenge for an out-of-bounds call stopped Clemson’s scoring run and brought the score to 22-17. North Carolina took set one, 25-20.
Clemson’s Mia McGrath closed out the first set with a serve into the net and opened the second with an ace. This set the tone for the Tiger’s performance in the second set. Head coach Mike Shall called a timeout.
North Carolina continued to battle with Clemson as the set tied at 17. Shaffmaster and Hampton led the charge on the UNC run with two kills each. Each team got a chance at a scoring run before a UNC timeout.
Clemson came out of the timeout with powerful defense, stopping everything North Carolina threw its way. The Tigers maintained a two-point lead. But Clemson took set two 25-22 from a Shaffmaster kill into the net.
UNC’s sophomore setter Zoe Behrendt opened the third set with an ace, hoping to set the tone. Clemson returned with three consecutive points.
