University of Tennessee Athletics
North Carolina Deals Lady Vols First Loss of Season
September 10, 2000 | Volleyball
- Box Score
KONXVILLE, TENN. (Sept. 9, 2000) -- The University of Tennessee volleyball team dropped the first match of the season to North Carolina in the Toyota of Knoxville Lady Vol Classic on September 9. The Tar Heels defeated UT, 3-1.
"It was a successful weekend for us," head coach Rob Patrick said. "North Carolina is a good team. I think the match with Houston took more out of us than we anticipated and that was a factor in the loss."
UT charged out of the gates, taking game one 15-7. From there, North Carolina took control, winning the next three frames 15-7, 15-8 and 15-13.
Sophomore middle blocker Janelle Hester (Davenport, Iowa/Davenport) had a career-high 21 kills on the match to lead the Orange and White. She hit at .545. Junior outside hitter Ariana Wilson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Princeton) added 19 kills and five blocks while her classmate setter Erica Lear (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East) had 50 assists and a team-high 15 digs in the loss.
The Tar Heels out hit the Lady Vols .273 to .228. Nicole Reis had a game-high 25 kills to lead North Carolina.
In other action at the Toyota of Knoxville Lady Vol Classic, UT defeated Jacksonville State, 3-0, in the first match on Saturday while Houston defeated North Carolina, 3-1, in the second. In the 5 p.m. match Houston blanked Jacksonville State, 3-0. On Friday, Tennessee won a tough five game match over Houston and North Carolina beat Jacksonville State, 3-0.
Houston won the tournament, as a three-way tie was broken via the SEC's tie breaking criteria. Houston had the best game winning percentage of the three schools. North Carolina was the runner-up and Tennessee would have to settle for third.
Houston's Bobbi Stewart was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. She was joined on the All-Tournament squad by her teammate Michelle Frazier, North Carolina's Casey Simpson and Laura Greene, UT's Hester and Jacksonville State's Kelby Rumphf.
The 5-1 Lady Vols continue their home stand on Monday as they play host to Memphis at 7 p.m. in Stokely Athletics Center.
