CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Virginia volleyball team (12-17, 4-14 ACC) concluded its 2022 season on Saturday (Nov. 26), when the Cavaliers fell, 25-15, 25-16, 25-20, to North Carolina (17-12, 9-9 ACC) at Carmichael Arena.
UVA was led Abby Tadder, who finished Saturday’s match with seven kills, hit .417 and posted three blocks. Fifth year Grace Turner (7 kills) concluded her UVA career with 959 career kills, the most by a Cavalier since Sarah Billiard (2017-20) tallied 1,000 career kills.
Set 1: North Carolina 25, Virginia 15
Both teams were tied 2-2 to open the match before North Carolina embarked on an 8-1 run to open up a 10-3 lead. The Tar Heels recorded four service aces in the opening set. Another 6-1 UNC run later in the frame gave the Tar Heels an 18-6 lead. Virginia started to settle in towards the end of the set, but UNC’s early lead was too much to overcome. Veresia Yon led the Hoos with three kills while hitting .250 at the end of the first.
Set 2: North Carolina 25, Virginia 16
Once again, the two teams were knotted 2-2 before the Tar Heels ignited a scoring run, this one 7-0. Virginia halted the UNC scoring streak with a 4-0 run of its own after three Tar Heel attack errors were followed by Turner’s first and only ace of the day. North Carolina closed out game No. 2 on a 5-2 run to take a 2-0 lead heading into the break.
Set 3: North Carolina 25, Virginia
Set No. 3 was more competitive as the Tar Heels led by just two, 15-13, at the media timeout. The difference in the set proved to be UNCs 5-0 run to grasp a 21-15 lead. UVA cut its deficit to as little as three (22-19), but North Carolina won three of the last four plays to defeat the Cavaliers in sweeping fashion. Tadder tallied five of her seven kills in the third and defensive specialist Kate Johnson successfully dug five UNC attacks.
NOTES
- Grace Turner conclude her playing career at UVA with 959 kills, 101 aces, 609 digs and 157 total blocks.
- In addition to Turner, Josi Williams, Jayna Francis, Mattison Matthews and Simone Dominique’s careers at UVA officially came to a close.
- With the win, North Carolina improved to 54-16 in the all-time series, which began in 1980.