Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
North Carolina
Deacs Drop Five-Set Heartbreaker at North Carolina
10/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeVolleyball)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Wake Forest volleyball team dropped a hard-fought match to North Carolina, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon in Chapel Hill.
The Demon Deacons (10-8, 2-4 ACC) established an early advantage with a convincing 25-17 win in set one. However, the Tar Heels (7-7, 4-2 ACC) answered with a 25-18 win in set two before narrowly winning the third set, 25-23. Facing defeat, the Deacs dominated the fourth set with a 25-14 win. However, in the team's second five-set match of the year, the Tar Heels won, 15-5, to take the match.
Despite the loss, sophomore Caitlyn Della totaled a career-high 18 kills. Della also hit a team-best .571 for the match. Kylie Long added 16 kills, while Caroline Rassenfoss tallied 11. Freshman Madeline Holt delivered a career-high 47 assists.
Wake Forest pulled away late to run away with the first set, 25-17. The Demon Deacons hit .314 for the set, compared to just .133 for the Tar Heels. After the score was tied at 15 apiece, Wake Forest won 10 of the last 12 points to claim the set.
The Tar Heels rebounded with a strong second set. Much like the first set, the teams were close until a late North Carolina run tied the match, 1-1. North Carolina's defense was strong in the second, holding the Deacs to just an .023 hitting perentage.
In the most closely contested set of the match, North Carolina outlasted the Demon Deacons, 25-23, to win the third set and establish a 2-1 match lead. With the Tar Heels leading, 24-21, Della recorded back-to-back kills pull the Deacs within one. Unfortunately, on the next point, Taylor Leath's kill clinched the set for North Carolina.
Down to their final chance, the Deacs blitzed the Tar Heels in the fourth, as they raced out to an 11-4 lead and never looked back. Wake Forest won the set, 25-14, thanks to an outstanding .345 hitting percentage.
In the final set, the Tar Heels raced out to a quick lead and closed the door on the Demon Deacons. North Carolina hit .700 in the set to win the match, 3-2.
Overall, Wake Forest recorded 63 kills to North Carolina's 51. However, the Tar Heels committed only 19 attack errors, while the Deacs totaled 30. North Carolina also had 15 total blocks, compared to just five for Wake Forest.
Up next, the Demon Deacons return home to host Florida State this Friday, Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
