The No. 25 North Carolina women’s volleyball (18-3, 10-2 ACC) team fell to No. 16 Georgia Tech (17-4, 9-3 ACC), 3-2, on Sunday afternoon in Carmichael Arena.
Coming off of a win against Clemson Friday night, North Carolina’s offense was strong and energized, producing kill after kill. Defensive errors, however, were able to keep Georgia Tech in set one. With UNC down by four, head coach Mike Schall called a timeout in an attempt to turn the set around.
Senior outside hitter Mabrey Shaffmaster was able to get this momentum going, with two kills and an ace. Kills by sophomore outside hitter Safi Hampton closed the gap, but UNC was unable to stop Georgia Tech from taking set one.
Georgia Tech continued to look strong in the second set, taking an early 4-0 lead. Shaffmaster broke the run with a kill after a North Carolina timeout but the Yellow Jackets continued to climb.
North Carolina took the lead for the first time in the second set with a kill by graduate middle blocker Alexis Engelbrecht. The game remained close, going back and forth between tied and the Tar Heels leading. An ace from sophomore setter Zoe Behrendt ended the cycle and put North Carolina up 21-19.
Errors from UNC allowed Georgia Tech to take the second set though, giving the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 lead.
Set three started similarly for North Carolina, with big offensive plays and difficulties defensively keeping the set close. Graduate outside hitter Emani’ Foster made it a six point lead with back-to-back kills.
Kills from Hampton, Foster and sophomore opposite hitter Chelsea Thorpe kept a consistent lead for UNC throughout the third set. A Georgia Tech error led the Tar Heels to their first set win of the afternoon.
In set four, Georgia Tech and UNC stayed within two points of each other until a block by Shaffmaster and first-year middle blocker Jackie Taylor put North Carolina up 9-6. UNC’s blocking continued to pose an issue for the Georgia Tech offense.
