Aug. 29, 2008
Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -
The University of North Carolina volleyball team fell into an early hole Friday night in Champaign, Ill. at the State Farm Illini Classic against the host Fighting Illini and were not able to bounce back as the Tar Heels were swept 3-0 (21-25, 14-25, 12-25). Carolina hit .017 for the match as it falls to 0-1 on the new campaign. The Tar Heels will face off against No. 11 Oregon at 12 noon CT and No. 24 New Mexico State at 7 p.m. CT to close out play on the opening weekend.
The host Illini got on the board first as they jumped out to a quick lead behind the fired up home crowd. The Tar Heels were able to chip away at Illinois' early lead but a 5-0 run by the Illini forced North Carolina into an early time out with the score standing at 10-6. Joe Sagula could not have timed the break any better as his troops came out with four consecutive points to tie the set at 10-10.
Both teams battled over the next few points before Heather Brooks pulled the Tar Heels within one at 16-15 with an `excuse me' kill. Needing to get the ball over Brooks was caught off guard and tipped the ball over the net in the middle of the surprised Illini. Following Brooks' kill however, Illinois went on another run, this of the 4-1 variety to force Sagula to call his final timeout of the opening set. Carolina was able to cut the deficit to one at 22-21 before Illinois rolled off three consecutive points to put the set away at 25-21. Neither team hit particularly well in the opener with Illinois hitting .178 and the Tar Heels came in at .093.
Illinois started out hot in the second game as well with a quick 3-0 run before stretching that lead to 11-5 forcing the Tar Heels into an early timeout. Unfortunately for Carolina they did not come out with the same fire-power following the timeout as they did in the opening set as the Illini kept rolling outscoring the Tar Heels 5-2 before another timeout was called.
The two teams would essentially trade points the rest of the way as Illinois on the back of an impressive .379 hitting percentage finished off the Tar Heels by a 25-14 margin. North Carolina committed eight errors for the second consecutive set but had six fewer kills and hit a match-low -.059.
The theme of the night continued in game three as the host jumped out to a 7-0 lead. The Illini would stretch their lead to 11-3 following a Carolina timeout after the opening seven points. Sagula would signal another break in the action before Illinois continued to roll the rest of the game finishing with a 25-12 set three victory and a season-opening sweep of the Tar Heels.
Carolina tallied seven kills in the set but also committed seven errors en route to a .000 hitting percentage, while Illinois hit .222 in the third and final frame. Megan Owens led the Tar Heels with six kills on the night while Stephanie Jansma dished out 21 assists and Brianna Eskola led the team with 11 digs.
The Tar Heels will look to bounce back tomorrow against No. 11 Oregon at 12 noon CT before wrapping up the State Farm Illini Classic against No. 24 New Mexico State at 7 p.m. CT.
