Oct. 7, 2005

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --- The University of North Carolina volleyball team moved into a share of first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a four game win over visiting Florida State, 30-28, 31-33, 30-21, 30-27, Friday night at Carmichael Auditorium. Senior libero Taylor Rayfield had a career-high 35 digs - one shy of the school record - to lead the Tar Heels.

Carolina (10-6, 5-1 ACC) came out slowly in game one, quickly falling behind 13-8 after Florida State (3-10, 1-4 ACC) went on a 9-3 run. Head coach Joe Sagula used his final timeout at 21-16, and the Tar Heels responded with a 5-2 run to cut the deficit to two at 23-21. UNC finally tied it at 25-all, and took the lead at 26-25 on an Amy Beaver ace. FSU drew even at 28-all, only to serve the ball out of bounds and give the Tar Heels game point. The hosts took advantage of the mistake, as sophomore Christie Clark and freshman Lauren Prussing teamed up for a block to end the game, 30-28.

Game two was more of the same, with Florida State leading for most of the game before Carolina rallied to take the lead. After trailing 20-16, the Tar Heels tied it at 20-all on a Dani Nyenhuis kill. The teams would trade the lead until FSU used an ace to get to game point at 29-28. Carolina fought it off and got a game point of its own at 31-30. Nyenhuis had a swing for the game but missed on an attempt to put down an over pass. Florida State responded, winning the game, 33-31.

The Tar Heels finally played with the lead in game three, winning with relative ease, 30-21. After jumping out to a 6-2 advantage, UNC never trailed. With the score still tight at 21-18, Carolina used a 6-0 run to blow the game open. The Tar Heels held FSU to a .000 hitting percentage, with Rayfield contributing nine digs.

Carolina was forced to come from behind again in game four, as Florida State ran out to a 15-8 lead. UNC began to cut into the lead with an 8-3 run to make it 22-20. The Seminoles still led by three at 26-23 before a 3-0 run tied it, punctuated by a Nyenhuis kill. After a sideout, UNC won the game's final four points to secure the match, 30-27.

The win, coupled by Maryland's loss at Georgia Tech, moves the Tar Heels into a tie for first place in the ACC. Carolina will look to improve to 6-1 in the league Saturday as the Tar Heels face Miami at 3 p.m.