Sept. 8, 2009
Carolina Classic Tournament Guide
Carolina Classic Tournament Central
2009 Statistics
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina volleyball will play its first home matches of the season this weekend hosting Colorado State, Marshall and Tennessee in the Carolina Classic. Carolina (3-3) has played its first six matches of the year on the road playing in tournaments in East Lansing, Mich. and Wichita, Kan. The Tar Heels are coming off their first back-to-back wins of the season defeating Oklahoma and Grambling State this past weekend.
The Tar Heels defeated Oklahoma last Saturday 3-2 in what could be viewed as a turning point in the 2009 season. Carolina suffered one of its worse set losses in school history dropping the first frame to the Sooners 25-8. Oklahoma would go on to win the second set, before Carolina won the last three to claim a big victory over the Sooners. Freshman Emily McGee and senior Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland were each named to the Shocker Classic All-Tournament team last week.
Tar Heels in the Carolina Classic: Carolina is 25-8 as hosts of the Carolina Classic. In 2008, the Heels defeated Missouri State, Georgetown and Davidson all in clean sweeps 3-0. Friday's match against Tennessee marks the home opener for Carolina.
Quality Opponents: North Carolina's three losses this season all come from ranked opponents - #15 Southern California, #18 Michigan State and #23 Wichita State. The Tar Heels fell in three sets to USC, four to Wichita State and five to Michigan State. 2009 Carolina Classic participant Colorado State was ranked 24th in the AVCA preseason poll while Tennessee received 24 votes in the most recent poll.
Tar Heels On the Offensive: Carolina displays a balanced offensive attack in 2009. The Heels are averaging 11.88 kills per set and a .215 hitting percentage. Junior
Suzanne Haydel leads the team with 53 kills followed by
Heather Brooks (48),
Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland (41),
Branagan Fuller (38),
Courtney Johnston (29) and
Emily McGee (28). Brooks leads the team in hitting percentage at .331 while all 28 of McGee's kills are in the last three games including an 18-kill effort against Oklahoma.
Defense Progressing: The 2009 Tar Heels are still in search of defense. A season ago, Carolina possessed a stout defense led by `09 graduate Brianna Eskola who holds the career ACC record for digs. Two Heels continue to compete for the libero spot. Sophomore Aleksandra Georgieva has played the last four matches at libero averaging 2.82 digs in 22 sets. Fellow sophomore Kaylie Gibson averages 2.32 digs in 19 sets, while outside hitters Suzanne Haydel (2.71) and Emily McGee (2.80) complement the squads defense.
Strong Newcomers: Carolina has played four freshmen and one transfer in 2009. Dynamic senior transfer Branagan Fuller has adapted well ranking fourth on the team in kills and digs per set. Freshman Emily McGee proves to be a force at outside hitter recording 28 kills this weekend, including 18 in a come from behind win over Oklahoma. Setter Cora Harms and outside hitter Heather Henry have eached played in 15 or more sets.
Scouting the `09 Classic Field (9/8/09)
Colorado State - Tom Hilbert's club was ranked No. 24 in the preseason and is 2-0 all-time against Carolina. The Rams defeated the Tar Heels 3-0 last season
in Fort Collins, Colo. The Rams are currently 4-3 after dropping a close midweek
battle to ACC foe Duke on Wednesday, Sept. 9 (1-3). This is the Rams
first trip to Chapel Hill.
Marshall - Marshall's victories include beating Davidson (3-0), Charlotte (3-2),High Point (3-0),NC A&T (3-0) and most recently UNC Greensboro (3-0) on
Wednesday, Sept. 9. The Thundering Herd is off to the best start (9-0) in the
programs history under the direction of coach Mitch Jacobs.
Tennessee - The Vols are 5-1 entering the Carolina Classic. They have significant wins over Notre Dame (3-0), Xavier (3-0) and Western Kentucky (3-2)
under coach Rob Patrick.
