Sept. 24, 2002
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - No. 15 North Carolina faced an in-state test Tuesday, but hung on to beat the Charlotte 49ers 3-1. The Tar Heels improve to 12-1 on the season and 14-0 all-time vs. Charlotte, while the 49ers fell to 8-6.
Senior outside hitter Laura Greene led the Tar Heels with 17 kills, while senior outside hitter Malaika Underwood added 18 digs.
Game 1 started with back and forth, with the Tar Heels taking the early 7-3 lead. Charlotte chipped away at the lead, eventually tying the score at 12-12. The score was again tied at 19-19 before the Tar Heels pulled away by two on consecutive kills by sophomore outside hitter Molly Pyles and senior middle hitter Holly Strauss, respectively, for a 21-19 lead. Charlotte got back within one point twice, but Carolina held on, clinching the game on a kill by Greene. Greene would finish the game with a team-high eight kills on 13 attempts.
Carolina jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game two, thanks to a quick kill by junior middle hitter Aletha Green and back to back service aces by Greene. The 49ers came back to within one point at 6-5, but from there Carolina went on a 9-2 run to build a 15-7 lead. The Tar Heels continued to roll, take a 10-point lead at 25-15 on a Greene kill before going on to a 30-19 win.
The third game was back and forth, with no team ever holding on to more than a three point lead. Charlotte trailed 26-24, but mounted a 6-2 run down the stretch to take a game from the Tar Heels for the first time since 1993.
In game four the Tar Heels came out strong, winning the first four points on Underwood's serve, before going on to a 10-4 lead. Charlotte would take a time out, and go on a 7-4 run to close the Carolina lead to 14-11. The Tar Heels built their biggest lead of the night on a Strauss kill for a 20-13 lead, but the 49ers did not fold, battling back to within two at 24-22. Carolina would close with a 6-3 run, clinching the match on a kill by Greene.
The Tar Heels open their ACC schedule Friday vs. NC State at 7 p.m. in Carmichael Auditorium. Carolina has not lost to the Wolfpack since 1997, with a perfect 10-0 record since that loss. -www.tarheelblue.com-