October 29, 2005

Box Score

North Carolina 3, Virginia Tech 1

 

Blacksburg, Va. - The Virginia Tech women's volleyball team fell 3-1 in a hard-fought battle against North Carolina on Saturday evening in Cassell Colisseum. Game scores were 24-30, 24-30, 30-23 and 30-32.

Junior Allie Kupec (Columbia, Md.) led Tech with a career-high 16 kills. Junior Katie Esbrook (Lake In The Hills, Ill.) was also in double figures in kills with 14. She also had a team-high six blocks.

Sophomore Amanda Cloyd (Muncie, Ind.) had a season-high 28 digs, while senior Melissa Markowski (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) had 51 assists and 11 kills.

Despite falling into a two-game hole by 30-24 decisions in both of the first two games, Tech (11-11, 6-7 ACC) showed marked improvement as the match continued, winning game three 30-23. The Hokies never trailed in game three, and led by as many as 10 points. Esbrook had five kills during the game to lead Tech. The Tar Heels (16-7, 11-2 ACC) hit just .019 in game three, compared to the Hokies .143 hitting percentage.

Game four saw 12 ties and six lead changes. Tech pulled out to a five-point lead, 24-19, with a run that included a kill from senior Erin Brugger (Clifton, Va.)

An 11-6 run by North Carolina whittled away at the score, tying the game at 30. Camilla Ihenetu scored the final two points for the Tar Heels with kills to give UNC the 32-30 win. Kupec had five kills in game four to lead Tech.

Brugger totaled eight kills and 10 assists for Tech. Sophomore Jen Albrecht (Canandaigua, N.Y.) had seven kills and five digs, leading the team with a .286 hitting percentage.

For North Carolina, Ihenetu totaled 19 kills. Taylor Rayfield had a team-high 26 digs, and Amy Beaver was also in double figures with 16 kills. Beaver and Ihenetu each had five blocks.

Tech looks to get back on track on Tuesday, November 1 against the Virginia Cavaliers at 7:00 p.m. in Cassell Colisseum. It will mark the fifth contest of the Commonwealth Challenge, presented by Adelphia.