Box Score

 

WICHITA, Kan. - No. 25 Wichita State won its opening match of the 2009 Best Western Volleyball Classic with a 3-1 victory over North Carolina Friday night inside Charles Koch Arena.

The Shockers won by scores of 20-25, 25-17, 25-20 and 25-14. Amanda Backes posted a match-high 16 kills while Emily Stockman added 13 to fuel the Shocker attack. Ingrid Hanson-Tuntland led UNC with a team-best 10 kills. Mary Elizabeth Hooper led all players with 45 assists and Melissa Granville led all players with 27 digs.

The Tarheels jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the first set and increased it to 11-6 after a service ace. UNC continued to roll until the Shockers pulled to within 22-18 after a Tarheel hitting error. UNC held on to take the set 25-20.

A service ace by Emily Stockman put the Shocks up 4-2 in the second set and another Stockman ace increased the lead to 6-2. Behind the serving of Sarah Waldorf, the Shockers went up 16-5 before a Tarheel kill ended the serving run. A UNC service ace cut the lead to 22-15, but the Shockers won the set 25-17 on a kill by Mary Elizabeth Hooper.

The teams traded points early in the third set until a kill by Hooper put the Shocks up 8-4. The Tarheels pulled to within 12-11 with a kill, but a kill by Amanda Backes gave WSU an 18-13 lead. A triple block by the Tarheels cut the Shocker lead to 21-18, but WSU held on to win 25-20.

A Sarah McGee kill gave the Shocks a 4-1 advantage in the fourth set, but the Tarheels came back to take a 6-5 lead with a service ace. A block by Hooper put WSU back in front 8-6 and back-to-back blocks by Stephanie Tokarz and Hooper increased the lead to 11-6. WSU continued to increase its lead and won the set 25-14.

The Shockers are next in action at noon on Sat., Sept. 5 against Grambling State and finish the tourney at 7:30 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 5 against Oklahoma.

-Wichita State-