Oct. 19, 2002

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - No. 11 North Carolina extended its winning streak to 12 games defeating Virginia 3-0 in University Hall Saturday night. The Tar Heels improved to 20-1 (7-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) winning 30-21, 30-19, 30-23.

Carolina hit .338 in the match, led by senior outside hitter Malaika Underwood and junior middle hitter Aletha Green who recorded 12 kills each. Sophomore Molly Pyles recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs while hitting .364. Underwood hit .393 and added a double-double with 13 digs.

Three Underwood kills accounted for three of the Tar Heels first five points to build a 5-3 lead in the first game. The Tar Heels would hold on to the two point lead until 10-8, when an 8-3 run led by three Pyles kills built the Tar Heel lead to 18-11. With the score 23-18, two kills each by Pyles and senior outside hitter Laura Greene led the Heels on a 7-3 run to win 30-21.

Carolina's middle attack came up big in the second game, with Green and senior middle hitter Holly Strauss recording five kills each while combining to hit .687 in the 30-19 win. With the game tied 6-6, Greene and Strauss combined ona block to give the Tar Heels a 7-6 lead which they would not relinquish. Solo blocks by Underwood and Green gave the Tar Heels key points in the game.

In Game 3, two consecutive kills by senior setter Eve Rackham gave the Tar Heels an 8-4 edge, but Virginia battled back to tie the match at 15-15. A pair of Pyles' kills put Carolina ahead for good in the game. Down the stretch Underwood picked up three of the team's six final points including the point that sealed the game 30-23.

The Tar Heels have won eight straight matches vs. Virginia and hold a 26-8 edge in the series.

Carolina is next in action Tuesday night, taking on the NC State Wolfpack on the road at 7 p.m.