Oct. 14, 2006

Box Score

CLEMSON, S.C. --- North Carolina stretched Clemson to the limit for three games Friday night before falling to the Tigers, 30-27, 30-27, 37-35, at Jervey Gymnasium. Noelle Dyk had a match-high 18 kills for the Tar Heels (4-14, 2-7 Atlantic Coast Conference), who fell in Clemson for the first time since 1997. Danielle Hepburn and Jeannette Abbott each had 14 kills to lead the Tigers (12-4, 7-1 ACC).

Carolina took the early advantage in game one with an all-around offensive attack and solid blocking. With the score tied at 8, the Tar Heels went on an 8-3 run to build a 16-11 lead and force a Clemson timeout. The gap would grow to seven on a ball-handling error at 22-15 before the Tigers made what would prove to be the decisive run. Behind Hepburn in the middle, Clemson won 10 of the next 13 points to tie the score at 25. UNC would actually lead by two again at 27-25, but the Tigers took the final five points for a 30-27 win.

The hosts carried the momentum of their game one comeback into the next frame, racing out to an early 8-3 lead. The deficit would grow to six several times, but the Tar Heels were able to weather the storm thanks to Noelle Dyk and Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland, who combined for 13 of UNC's 19 kills in the frame. Three straight kills by Dyk and a Stephanie Jansma service ace made it 14-12 and forced a Clemson timeout.

After the lead was pushed back to six at 20-14, Hanson-Tuntland put down two consecutive kills to help cut the lead back to two and keep the Tar Heels in the game. But Carolina was never able to get any closer than two, and the Tigers took the game, 30-27.

Carolina pushed Clemson to the brink in game three, but the Tigers converted their sixth match point to seal the victory, 37-35. Trailing 25-24, UNC won three straight points to move ahead by two. After the two teams traded side outs, Clemson got a kill and a block to even the score at 28. A Dyk kill gave Carolina its first of two game points, but the Tar Heels were unable to convert either. In the thrilling closing moments, UNC fought off five straight match points before Hepburn's 14th kill of the night ended it.

Jansma finished with a double-double (49 assists, 12 digs), while Brianna Eskola had a match-high 23 digs. Lauren Prussing and Hanson-Tuntland each had 11 kills for the Tar Heels.

Next up for Carolina is Maryland, who visits Carmichael Auditorium next Friday at 7 p.m.