Nov. 20, 2005

Box Score

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. --- The University of North Carolina volleyball team lost its second straight five-game decision Sunday afternoon, falling to Florida State, 27-30, 24-30, 30-24, 30-27, 19-17. The loss marks the second straight match in which the Tar Heels (21-9, 16-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) won the first two games only to drop the next three. Senior outside hitter Camilla Ihenetu led the offense with 18 kills, while junior middle Amy Beaver had 13 kills and eight blocks.

Florida State (13-16, 10-10 ACC) ran out to a 10-1 lead in the opening frame before Carolina came alive. Freshman defensive specialist Brianna Eskola served six straight points as the Tar Heels cut the lead to four at 12-8. UNC finally took the lead at 27-26 on a service ace by senior libero Taylor Rayfield, and an Ashley Board service ace sealed the game, 30-27. Rayfield had 20 digs to become the first Tar Heel to ever reach 600 digs in a single season (618).

Game two had a similar start, as the hosts led early only to see Carolina take the win. FSU led by as many as five at 8-3, but UNC used a 5-0 run at 20-all to put the game away, winning 30-24.

For the second straight match, game three proved to be the turning point. After a Seminole service error tied the score at 13-all, Florida State went on a 10-2 run to take a 23-15 lead. Carolina would get no closer than five as FSU took the game, 30-24.

Sarah Griffin served the first four points of the fourth game, and Florida State never trailed in the frame, winning 30-27. The Tar Heels put together a 7-0 run to briefly tie the score at 19-all, but the Seminoles responded by building a four-point lead at 27-23. Griffin put down the game-winning kill to force a fifth game, 30-27.

Unlike Friday night, when UNC never threatened in a 15-2 game-five loss to Miami, Sunday's fifth game was a back-and-forth affair. The teams were even through 10 points before FSU grabbed an 8-6 advantage at the crossover. That lead would grow to four before Carolina won five of six to tie the score at 11-all. The teams traded sideouts before UNC put together back-to-back points to get to match point at 14-13. But Makini Thompson and Lauren Scott teamed up for a block of an Ihenetu swing to extend the match. After a second straight block gave Florida State match point, it was up to the Tar Heels to extend the match. UNC escaped match points at 15-14, 16-15 and 17-16 before Thompson put down the clincher at 18-17 to give the Seminoles the win.

Carolina will now return home for the season's final weekend. The Tar Heels will host Boston College Friday afternoon at 1 before meeting Maryland Saturday afternoon at 1.