Aug. 30, 2008

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of North Carolina volleyball team dropped its second straight 3-0 decision on Saturday as the Tar Heels fell to No. 11 Oregon in the State Farm Illini Classic in Champaign, Ill. Christine Vaughen and Suzanne Haydel finished with a team-high seven kills apiece as the Tar Heels fall to 0-2 on the year and will close out tournament play at 7 p.m. CT against No. 24 New Mexico State.

Looking to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to open the season Friday night the Tar Heels faced off against No. 11 Oregon in their second match of the State Farm Illini Classic, Carolina fell into an early hole again dropping the opening set 25-19. The Tar Heels were forced into an early timeout as the Ducks jumped out to a 5-1 lead early in the set. A 5-2 run by Oregon bumped the score to 10-3 before Carolina answered with a 4-1 streak of their own to cut the deficit to four at 11-7. Oregon would take four of the next five points as the Tar Heels called their final timeout of the set.

A 5-1 run by Oregon was answered nearly single-handedly by Christine Vaughen as she delivered a number of power serves that helped push the momentum back to the Carolina side bringing the score to 21-14. The Tar Heels attempt to chip away at the lead would come a little late as the Ducks took set one 25-19 on the back of a .243 hitting percentage, while holding Carolina to a mark of .053.

Head Coach Joe Sagula would mix up his outside hitters a bit in the second set as he sent out sophomore Suzanne Haydel and freshman Aleksandra Georgieva to join senior Lauren Prussing. The change helped the Tar Heels to a quick start as they captured three of the opening four points. A 13-5 outburst the No. 11-ranked Ducks put Oregon back in the lead at 14-8 and forced the Tar Heels into their first timeout. Oregon would ride their .387 hitting percentage to second set victory as it would finish off the Tar Heels at 25-16.

The third set would prove to be the most competitive of the match and featured the Ducks and Tar Heels essentially trading points with Oregon taking a narrow advantage at 15-12. A 3-1 run by the Tar Heels pulled Sagula's crew to within one at 16-15. Oregon would bounce back with a 9-4 run to close out the set and the match as well.

Carolina finished the match with a .066 hitting percentage as it committed 22 errors in the match. Christine Vaughen and Suzanne Haydel were a pair of bright spots for the Tar Heels as each finished with seven kills as Vaughen hit .267 and Haydel tallied a .278 mark. Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland chipped in six kills and hit .250 on the day, while also picking up four solo blocks and a pair of block assists.

The Tar Heels will have a chance to bounce back right away as they are set to take on No. 24 New Mexico State at 7 p.m. CT to close out the State Farm Illini Classic.