Sept. 27, 2002

Box Score

Chapel Hill, N.C.-No. 15 North Carolina defeated NC State Friday night in front of 1,283 fans in Carmichael Auditorium in both team's Atlantic Coast Conference openers. The Tar Heels improved to 13-1 (1-0) with the 3-0 win, while the Wolfpack fell to 2-16 (0-1).

NC State matched the Tar Heels at 7-7 in the first game of the night, but a kill by senior outside hitter Laura Greene for an 8-7 lead ignited Carolina. The team would lead for the rest of the game, clinching a 30-23 win on a kill by senior middle hitter Holly Strauss, her seventh of the game.

Game 2 started with a 3-0 NC State lead, but after a Tar Heel timeout the team came out and started its first of four 5-0 runs in the game, beginning with a kill by senior outside hitter Malaika Underwood. The team gradually built a 10 point lead at 27-17 on the fourth of those 5-0 runs, and closed out the game 30-18 on a kill by sophomore outside hitter Molly Pyles.

Carolina held the edge for most of the third game, but State would not go quietly. The Tar Heels closed out their first ACC win of the year on a kill by senior outside hitter Laura Greene. This is the seventh consecutive year that the Tar Heels opened their ACC slate with a win.

Strauss led the Tar Heels with 10 kills and sophomore defensive specialist Caroline deRoeck had a team-high 14 digs. Maya Mapp and Adeola Kosoko recorded nine kills a piece for the Wolfpack, while Sarah Ensminger had a match-high 16 digs.

Carolina is next in action Tuesday on the road at Clemson, a 7 p.m. match.