Tar Heels Defeat No. 14 Illinois
Sept. 5, 1999 LONG BEACH, Calif. -In a see-saw battle, the Tar Heel volleyball team earned their first win of the season in an exciting five-game match over No. 14 Illinois. UNC improved its record to 1-2 in the victory (15-12, 8-15, 15-3, 11-15, 15-9). Shannon Smith led the balanced UNC attack with 15 kills, while Tori Seibert chipped in 14 kills and five blocks. Casey Simpson added 13 kills of her own, and Kathy Konczal finished with 12 kills and five blocks. However, freshman setter Eve Rackham, may have had the best all-around match with 43 assists, six kills, eight digs and three blocks. Illinois' Betsy Spicer led all players with 18 kills and 12 digs. The Tar Heels jumped up early in the fifth game, taking a 6-1 advantage. That lead grew to 8-3 and 11-6 before Illinois pulled back to within three at 13-10. However, UNC secured the final two points and the match. Game one was won in a similar manner to that of game five. Carolina led 8-3 and 14-6, only to hold off a late Illinois rally that pulled them to 14-12. Shannon Smith had five kills in the game to lead UNC to the 15-12 win. The Tar Heels also hit an outstanding .478 in the third game to win easily 15-3.
Game 1 Game2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5
North Carolina 15 8 15 11 15
Illinois 12 15 3 15 9
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