No. 25 Carolina volleyball kept rolling Sunday in Charlottesville, brushing aside Virginia in straight sets for its seventh win in a row. The Tar Heels never let the match get away from them once they grabbed control, and the scoreline showed it: 25-13, 25-16, 25-15.
The win moved Carolina to 11-3 overall and 6-0 in the ACC, while Virginia dropped the match at home. Carolina’s defense set the tone from the start and never loosened its grip, with the Cavaliers unable to take a lead in any set after the Tar Heels moved in front.
Safi Hampton paced the attack with 10 kills, while Chelsea Thorpe and Laynie Smith added eight apiece. In her first career start, Addison West chipped in seven kills. Smith, Jackie Taylor and Lauren Schutter each finished with five blocks.
The first set belonged to Carolina almost from the opening stretch. After Virginia got within 6-5, the Tar Heels answered with a 5-0 burst to create separation.
Later, a 6-1 run pushed the margin to 21-11, and Carolina finished the frame with a 3-0 run. Blocking was the difference in that opening set, where UNC collected five.
The second set played out in a similar rhythm. Carolina put up five more blocks and only saw the score tied twice.
Taylor led the way in that frame with five kills, while Hampton and Thorpe each added four. A 6-0 run sealed the set and gave Carolina a 2-0 lead.
West’s first start added another layer to Carolina’s depth in the third set. She led the Tar Heels with four kills on seven swings, stepping into the lineup because of injuries and keeping the production steady. The Omaha, Neb. native finished the week with 14 kills and a .367 hitting percentage.
Carolina’s defense was just as sharp over the full week. Neither opponent reached 20 points in a set, with Virginia Tech’s 18 in the second set Friday standing as the high-water mark.
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