In their second home tournament of the year, the North Carolina women’s volleyball team delivered a swift kick to Ball State, defeating them 3-1. Ball State came into the tournament with an impressive 8-1 record and a pension for being a hard-hitting team with a solid defense.
UNC took the first game 25-20. No team really held any momentum for most of the set. UNC suffered some defensive gaps and issues with passing, while Ball State dealt with errors in itsattacking and blocking game. As the set progressed, the Tar Heels were able to set up kills a lot more easily, allowing them to take the game.
The second set saw Ball State jump out to a large lead early. The Cardinals’ defense was solid, and they landed some laser kills on a scrambling Tar Heel defense. But the Heels were able to build some momentum before tying the game up at 23. A back and forth battle ensued, and Ball State took the set 27-25.
The Tar Heel defense blossomed in games three and four. UNC’s frontline landed some key blocks and kept the hard-hitting Ball State attack game in check. Overall, UNC dominated Ball State to a 25-16 win in the third game.
UNC lost that momentum in game four, but eventually battled to a 18-10 lead late in the game. Ball State did manage to stay competitive until the end, but UNC locked up the match on a Ball State service error, winning game four 25-21.
Courtney Johnston and Kayla Berringer led the UNC offense with 12 kills each. Christine Vaughen also shined offensively, hitting some strategic kills past the Ball State defensive arrangement.
While the Tar Heels’ service seemed a bit off with nine errors, they did knock down four aces, and coach Joe Sagula complimented the team’s service game for being very aggressive.
UNC will take on Appalachian State on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Temple at 7:30 as it looks to capture the Tar Heel Classic.
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