Upcoming Event: Volleyball versus #8 Louisville on October 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
/
6:30 PM
Volleyball
vs #8 Louisville
Saturday, September 17
Durham, N.C.
4:00 PM
Duke University
3
vs
2
UNCW
Duke Overcomes Slow Start, Drops UNCW in Five
9/17/2016 7:31:00 PM | Volleyball
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke shook off a slow first set to hand in-state foe UNCW its second loss of the season, dropping the Seahawks 3-2 (16-25, 25-23, 25-20, 22-25, 15-7) Saturday afternoon in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Duke (6-4) committed 12 errors in the opening stanza and hit -.054 while UNCW (9-2) posted a .304 clip to win the set in dominant fashion. The Blue Devils were able to control the ball more effectively the following four frames, allowing the offense to find its rhythm.
“I think the first set we came out a little flat,” said sophomore Leah Meyer. “We came back to the locker room and talked about how we need to work harder for every point and take it one point at a time. I think we did that. We were playing a little timid. We did a great job of turning that around.”
Sophomore outside hitter Jessi Bartholomew turned in a career performance, totaling 16 kills on 36 attempts. The Newnan, Ga., native committed two lone attack errors and posted a .389 hitting percentage to pace the Blue Devils.
Freshman setter Cindy Marina picked up the first 60-plus assist match of her young career to help four Blue Devils reach double-digit kills. Marina amassed 61 assists to go along with 11 digs for her team-leading sixth double-double of the season.
Meyer notched 15 kills and a team-high six blocks, while freshman Jamie Stivers and senior Jordan Tucker added 12 kills apiece. Stivers also picked up 16 digs to collect her second double-double.
Libero Sasha Karelov paced the backline with 26 digs. Defensive specialists Nicole Elattrache and Chloe Dipasquale contributed 16 and 13 digs, respectively, allowing Duke to control the ball better down the stretch.
The Seahawks dominated the first set, taking advantage of several Duke miscues.
The Blue Devils turned the momentum the next stanza. Despite trailing 14-11, Duke was able to rebound for the 25-23 decision. The Blue Devils won four straight points to turn a three-point deficit into a 15-14 lead. A pair of Seahawk attack errors gave Duke separation, 22-20, and the Blue Devils clinched the frame on a Tucker kill.
Duke built an early four-point lead in the third and maintained that margin throughout, winning the set 25-20. Stivers totaled six kills in the third while Duke's defense kept UNCW to a .094 hitting percentage.
A close fourth set ultimately went to the Seahawks, who won five the set's final six points to knot the overall score at 2-2.
Duke came out strong in the final set, stunning the Seahawks with an 8-2 advantage by the midway point. Meyer's 15th kill finished off the victory, Duke's second five-set win of the 2016 campaign.
The Blue Devils open ACC play Wednesday, Sept. 21, taking on Wake Forest at 6:30 p.m., in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
S/DS
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOut Here in Miami For Thanksgiving
Wednesday, December 04
Camera'd Up with Grace Thrower
Saturday, November 16
Big Lo on the Mic
Wednesday, November 13
Duke Athletics: A Tour of Campus
Saturday, October 19
