No. 14 Duke Drops a 3-1 Decision at UNC

Friday, October 9

Chapel Hill, NC

6:30 PM

Duke University

3-1,3-1ACC

North Carolina

2-1,2-1ACC

Duke

North Carolina

No. 14 Duke Drops a 3-1 Decision at UNC

10/9/2020 9:12:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The 14th-ranked Duke women's volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision (24-26, 17-25, 25-20, 16-25) Friday evening against North Carolina in Carmichael Arena.

The Blue Devils (3-1, 3-1 ACC) suffered their first loss of the 2020 fall season as the Tar Heels improve to 2-1 (2-1 ACC).

Junior Ade Owokoniran had a standout performance to lead the Blue Devils with her second double-double of the season. Owokoniran knocked down 16 kills to hit .220 for the match to go along with a whopping 15 digs, three blocks and one ace.

Junior libero Mackenzie Cole was outstanding for Duke's defense as she racked up 28 digs, just one off her career high.

Junior Lily Cooper hit .316 percent with six kills and no errors while sophomore setter Camille Nazor dished 23 assists.

Duke had five different Blue Devils collect a service ace tonight in Payton Schwantz, Owokoniran, Cole, Gracie Johnson and Georgia Stavrinides.

The first set was a battle of solid hitting percentages for both teams as Duke was hitting .520 late in the first. The Blue Devils held a strong 21-15 lead before the Tar Heels claimed eight of the next 10 points to tie the score (23-23). Back-to-back kills by North Carolina's Austin Parker sealed the first frame for the Tar Heels. Sophomore Lizzie Fleming hit .500 with three kills and zero errors followed by Owokoniran with five and just one error to hit .400 percent.

A team that was leading the country in blocks a week ago, the Blue Devils were unable to find the block until Lily Cooper's solo in the second set when Duke trailed 24-17.
The Tar Heels hit .343 in the second frame with 15 kills and just three errors to dominate the set.

Duke started to find its rhythm again in the third set as its hitting and blocking provided a big spark. The Blue Devils hit .219 percent with 11 kills and four errors and registered four blocks. Rookie Georgia Stavrinides brought energy off the bench, picking up three blocks to help hold the Tar Heels to a .083 hitting percentage.

The fourth and final set was an early back-and-forth battle before the Tar Heels pulled away with a 9-1 scoring run to win the match.

The Tar Heels were led by Amanda Phegley with 13 kills and just one error to hit .600 percent for the match.

Duke will take on North Carolina to close out the weekend Sunday at 5:30 p.m. on ACC Network.

For more information on Duke volleyball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeVB".

#GoDuke