Sept. 1, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina volleyball will be on the road for the second weekend in a row traveling to Wichita, Kansas. The Best Western Shocker Classic is hosted by No. 25 Wichita State with participating teams Grambling State, Oklahoma and the Tar Heels. The tough slate includes three games over the course of 24 hours. Carolina will play host No. 25 Wichita State Friday at 7:00 p.m., Oklahoma at 10:00 a.m. and Grambling State at 5:00 p.m. Saturday.
Carolina dropped two out of three matches in the MSU Showcase this past weekend. The Tar Heels defeated Albany in four sets, before falling to No. 16 Southern Cal in three and now No.20 Michigan State in five sets. The Tar Heels were tested in the first week of the season playing in front of a hostile crowd on the road, which should bode well for the contest this weekend.
Heels Show Balanced Attack -
North Carolina featured five players with 20 or more kills in the first week of the season: Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland (22), Courtney Johnston (26), Heather Brooks & Suzanne Haydel (27) and Branagan Fuller (29). Carolina is hitting .253 through three games capped off by a .288 percentage against a talented Michigan State squad. Two preseason All-ACC selections Heather Brooks and Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland hit over .300 on the weekend. Hanson-Tuntland leads the team with a .419 percentage while Brooks was All-Tournament last weekend setting a new career high with 15 kills against Albany.
Two is better than One -
The Tar Heels possess two setters this season to assist in their attack. Sophomore
Erica Behm recorded 86 assists over the weekend and was five short of her career high against Albany with 51 assists. Freshman
Cora Harms registered 37 assists over the weekend, while recording a serve ace in her first career play Friday against Albany.
Heels getting Defensive -
Carolina's defense was stout a year ago, but entering the Best Western Shocker Classic their defense will need to show signs of improvement. Outside hitters Suzanne Haydel (30) and Branagan Fuller (20) each proved to played solid defense over the weekend. Sophomores Kaylie Gibson and Aleksandra Georgieva split time at libero for the Heels and continue to compete entering this weekend. Georgieva played in the last four sets against Michigan State as Gibson averaged 2.27 digs per set primarily against Albany and Southern Cal.
Newcomers Make Difference -
Carolina played four freshmen this past weekend and one transfer. In her first game as a Tar Heel, Branagan Fuller had 15 kills en route to a four set win over Albany. Fuller teams with Haydel on the outside to provide an efficient attack for the Heels. Heather Henry recorded three kills and seven total blocks this weekend against Michigan State and Southern Cal. Meg Yanda registered four kills against Albany while Emily McGee saw action over the weekend. California native and setter Cora Harms appeared in all three matches posting 37 assists.
Wichita State
The Shockers are 2-1 entering the weekend with wins over Belmont and Louisville. Wichita State was swept by Pittsburgh in three close matches over the weekend. The Shocks are led by seniors Emily Stockman and Melissa Granville. Stockman posts 37 kills in just three games and Granville has 30 digs in three matches at libero.
Oklahoma -
The Sooners are 4-0 entering the weekend with wins over Rice, Houston Baptist, Nichols State and Central Arkansas. Santiago Restrepo's club dropped only one set the entire weekend. The Sooners are led by sophomore setter Brianne Barker who has 128 assists in four matches and senior Bridget Laplante who has 34 kills and a .354 hitting percentage in four games.
Grambling State -
The Tigers fell to 0-3 on the season losing matches to TCU, Arkansas and Loyola Marymount this past weekend. The Tigers defeated Louisiana-Monroe Tuesday night in five sets to improve to 1-3. Grambling State is led by setter DaVarika Johnson and outside hitter Kendra Johnson.
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