SPORTS

 

CHAPEL HILL — The Davidson volleyball team wrapped up non-conference play Saturday afternoon with a 3-0 loss to unbeaten North Carolina, but not before giving the Tar Heels a challenge.

North Carolina prevailed 25-16 and 25-19 in the first two sets, before fending off the Wildcats 25-23 in the third.

The Wildcats are now 4-6 as they look ahead to the 16-match Atlantic 10 Conference schedule, which begins Sept. 24.

Isabel Decker led Davidson with 14 kills Saturday, hitting double-digits for the sixth time this season.

Davidson won five of the first eight points of the match and also led 6-5 early in the second set. But some of the most promising stretches came midway through the second and late in the tight third.

In the second, the Wildcats trailed 18-11 before reeling off four straight points on kills by Decker, Anela Davis and Lauryn Albold, then cut it to 18-15 on a block by Davis and Decker. In the third, blocks by Lauryn Albold and Davis helped the Wildcats pull even at 14-all. Consecutive kills by Albold and Decker then put the Wildcats ahead 21-19 after Davidson took four straight points and six of seven. A final Decker kill tied the match at 23-all.

Isabella Perry and Kay finished with six kills apiece, while Jessie Doyal and Xuan Nguyen had 18 and 15 assists, respectively. Bella Brady had a team-best eight digs.

Up Next
The Wildcats open A-10 play next weekend with three home matches, including Saint Louis (Sept. 24), Fordham (Sept. 25) and Rhode Island (Sept. 26).