CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Aubrey Hamilton notched 15 kills with a mark of .357 and Charley Niego collected five service aces as Notre Dame earned a road sweep over North Carolina (25-22, 25-20, 25-21) on Friday night inside Carmichael Arena.
Hamilton’s 15 kills came on just 28 swings while Niego added nine kills and Sydney Bent notched eight. As a team, the Irish hit .299 on Friday night with Zoe Nunez collecting 30 assists in the three sets of play.
Notre Dame also totaled nine service aces against the Tar Heels, including five by Niego, two by Nunez and one each from Kiara Schmidt and Hattie Monson. Monson also led the Irish with 15 digs while Lindsey Miller notched a team-high four blocks.
The sweep is Notre Dame’s (10-12, 7-5 ACC) seventh straight-set victory this season and sixth in ACC play. Each of Notre Dame’s last six wins have come in straight-set fashion.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Set
The Irish broke a 3-3 tie with a 5-1 run, including an ace by Nunez, to go up 8-4 and force an early Tar Heels timeout. The hosts used a pair of 3-0 runs to even the set again at 13-13 before Miller and Niego notched back-to-back kills to put the Irish up 15-13.
The Irish forced another North Carolina timeout and extended their lead to 20-16 with two consecutive blocks by Miller. Kills by Hamilton, Niego and Nunez down the stretch helped Notre Dame clinch the opening frame, 25-22. Hamilton led the Irish with five kills in the first set and Notre Dame limited North Carolina to a hitting percentage of .079.
Second Set
The Tar Heels used a 4-0 run to go up 8-4 before the Irish eventually used a 4-1 run, including a kill and ace by Niego, to even the set at 14-14.
After the sides worked to an 18-all deadlock, Niego and Lockwood each notched a pair of kills in an Irish 4-1 run that put Notre Dame up 22-19.
Niego clinched the set with two straight aces, pushing her total to five in the set, as the Irish took a 2-0 lead with a 25-20 triumph in set two. As a team, Notre Dame hit .370 in the second set with six service aces.
Third Set
The Irish erased a 9-6 deficit with a 5-1 run, including an ace by Monson, to earn a 12-10 lead.
After the Tar Heels evened the frame at 15-15, the Irish earned five of the next six points, including two straight kills by Bent, to go up 20-16.
The hosts earned the next three points to get within one at 20-19, but a trio of kills by Hamilton kept the Irish in front as Notre Dame clinched the sweep with a 25-21 victory.
UP NEXT
- The Irish with a road matchup at NC State this Sunday (Nov. 7) at 1 p.m. ET
- That match will be streamed live via ACC Network Extra.
—ND—