SPORTS
Volleyball loses championship to North Carolina
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Wednesday, September 4, 2002
The 10th-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team couldn’t overcome a tough North Carolina defense, losing its first match of the season in the championship of the Carolina Classic. The Badgers lost to the Tar Heels 28-30, 28-30, 38-36, 30-23 despite coming from behind to win Game 3. The Badgers drop to 2-1 on the season, while the Tar Heels improve to 3-0.
“I think they outworked us tonight, and our team has to work harder with everything they’re doing,” said UW coach Pete Waite of the Tar Heels.
“We’re still a team trying to find itself. After some big losses in the lineup, this group has to find how hard you have to work to be a very good team. We’re bringing it at times. Our comeback in Game 3 in rally scoring was a huge comeback. That was evident that we’re capable of it, but we’re not bringing it at every point. Our focus is not there as a six-person unit all the time, and that’s something they’ve got to learn.”
While dominating offensively, the Badgers struggled on defense, especially in blocking. Wisconsin had five players in double-figure kills, led by all-tournament selection Erin Byrd with 16. Amy Hultgren, who also earned all-tournament honors, added 15 kills to the UW offense, and Lori Rittenhouse added 12. Lisa Zukowski and Jill Odenthal put down 11 and 10 kills respectively.
North Carolina was led by tournament MVP Laura Greene, who had 24 kills.
The Badgers finished with a 74-69 advantage in kills and out-hit the Tar Heels .225 to .198, but Wisconsin was out-blocked 13-4 and recorded only four service aces, compared to 10 for North Carolina.
“Blocking-wise, we’ve got to be a lot more disciplined,” said Waite. “A solid block will solidify your defense. We’re looking for who’s going to be in the lineup in different spots still.”
Wisconsin had five players in double-figure digs, led by 16 from Zukowski and 13 from Shields. Odenthal and Korie Gardner each had 12 digs, while Rittenhouse dug 10.
Wisconsin jumped out to a 5-0 lead in Game 1 as North Carolina recorded three early hitting errors. The Badgers maintained their five-point lead through 16-11 before the Tar Heels went on a 7-2 run to tie the match at 18. Wisconsin rallied to outscore North Carolina 9-4 to take a 27-24 lead off a block from Hultgren and Shields. The Tar Heels outscored the Badgers 3-0 to tie the game at 27 off two UW errors. Two of North Carolina’s five blocks sealed the game win.
A 16-10 Badger lead in Game 2 rapidly became a 16-16 tie as the Tar Heels scored six unanswered points, including two off-service aces. The game was tied five more times through 21-all before two Tar Heel errors and a Shields kill put UW up 24-21. The game was tied three more times, including at 28-28, before two North Carolina kills put the Tar Heels up two games to none.
Wisconsin battled back from a 26-17 deficit and held off nine match points in Game 3. The Tar Heels led 29-24 before the Badgers battled back to tie the match at 29 off two North Carolina hitting errors. The Heels served for match point three more times, including at 32-31, but North Carolina errors allowed the Badgers to take a 34-33 lead. Wisconsin served for game point five times before two kills by Byrd sent the match to four games.
In Game 4, Wisconsin stayed close early but trailed 22-16. The Badgers could get no closer than four (27-23) as the Tar Heels won their own tournament with a 3-0 record.
“We’ll be doing the same things that we have been,” said Waite. “On the court, we’re working on the right things. I think it’s their focus. They have to make a decision as to what kind of team they want to be, and that’s not always decided on by the staff. The players have to decide, and they have to not just say how good they’re going to be — they have to work hard at being good.”
— compiled from staff reports
