CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Duke volleyball team dropped a hard-fought 3-2 decision (25-22, 25-27, 25-21, 26-28, 12-15) at North Carolina Friday evening in Chapel Hill.
Offensively, Duke was led by Gracie Johnson, Lizzie Fleming and Kerry Keefe as all three tallied double-digit kills with 17, 13 and 11, respectively. Fleming hit .464 percent with 13 kills and no errors on 28 swings. Setter Emma Worthington dished 47 assists and led the team with 15 digs, while Johnson and Madison Bryant added 13 and 12 digs, respectively. Fleming led the blocking with six total blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Duke opened the match with a 1-0 lead as it hit .300 percent with help from Fleming’s .800 hitting percentage.
- The Blue Devils led 19-13 in the second set as North Carolina forced four Duke set points and ultimately took the set, 27-25.
- North Carolina’s blocking showed up in the second set with eight total blocks as it limited Duke to a .089 clip.
- Tied 1-1, Duke responded and reclaimed the lead with a .240 hitting percentage. Once again, Fleming led the offensive charge with five kills and no errors to go along with four blocks. Fellow graduate classmate Johnson collected three blocks to help shut down the Tar Heels’ offensive attempts.
- North Carolina trailed 16-7 in the fourth set, forced three Duke match points and took the set, 28-26.
- Both teams’ offenses clicked in the fourth frame as North Carolina just barely outhit its opponent, .227 percent.
- The back-and-forth affair featured four ties, but North Carolina’s Mabrey Shaffmaster knocked in her 20th kills of the evening, sending the match to a fifth set.
- North Carolina dominated the fifth and final set with eight kills and six total blocks, limiting Duke to a .000 hitting percentage. Shaffmaster knocked in five kills to lead the Tar Heels to the win.
NOTABLES
- Duke falls to 19-10 overall and 10-8 in conference play.
- Johnson tallied her 27th-career double-double.
- Fleming’s 13 kills was just one off her career high that was set back in 2021.
- Worthington notched her 32nd-career double-double and her 22nd-career game with 40 or more assists.
- North Carolina was led by Shaffmaster with 25 kills while Sydney Nolan notched 11 blocks.
QUOTE
- “We knew today’s match at North…
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