WILMINGTON, N.C.?Heather Burns led a UNC Asheville comeback with 15 kills and seven blocks as the Bulldogs defeated UNC Wilmington 3-2 in the final match of the Seahawk Classic to give the Dogs a split in its two matches on Saturday.
The Bulldogs (7-5) dropped the opening match of the day 3-0 (25-14, 25-16, 25-21) to Virginia Tech (9-2) and were down 2-0 against Wilmington (5-7). After the intermission, Asheville's blocking began to turn the match in the Dogs' favor. The Dogs would win the match 23-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-12, 15-10.
Asheville finished the match with nine team blocks and Burns led the way with five of hers coming in the final three sets. Joining Burns in double figures offensively were Lauren Ficker and Kelsey Benorden who each had 13 kills and Cindi Miller who finished with 12 kills. Benorden added 15 digs for her seventh double-double of the season.
“I think we learn a little bit about ourselves today,” said Asheville head coach Julie Torbett.” We went down 2-0 but we never hung our heads and we believed that we could comeback. Now we have learned that we can come back. Obviously, we don't want to be in that position very often but it is good to know we are capable of coming back in a match. We made adjustments through the match with our serving that forced UNCW to go to their outsides and that was the difference.”
The Dogs had nine service aces in the match to just one for the Seahawks. Asheville held a slight hitting edge out hitting UNCW .163 to .148.
UNCW was led by middle hitter Paula McConnell who led all players with 17 kills. Rachel Caricato had 10 kills from the outside.
In the first match of the day against Virginia Tech, Ficker was the Bulldog player in double figures with 11 kills. Raquel Miotto moved into fourth place on Asheville's all-time digs list with 14 digs against the Hokies and 23 digs against the Seahawks giving her 1,488 career digs passing Kelly Budnik (2000-03).
Burns and Miotto were both named to the tournament's All-Tournament Team.
Asheville will play its first home match of 2008 on Tuesday, Sept. 23, against NC A&T at 7 p.m. in the Justice Center. The match will be video streamed on the Big South Edge.
