NEW YORK — Hammerstein Ballroom echoed cheers throughout all four sets as Vanderbilt defeated No. 18 North Carolina 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-19, 27-25) on Sunday afternoon.
The Commodores earned their first ranked victory of the season behind a balanced offensive attack and their strongest statistical performance of the year. Vanderbilt established season highs in kills (65), assists (60), digs (58) and program-high total blocks (12.0) in the four-set win.
Reese Animashaun led all players with 20 kills and added 10 digs for a double-double. Her 20 kills surpassed both her previous season high and career high of 18, while her 22.0 points eclipsed her previous season-best total of 16.0.
Samantha Wunsch contributed 18 kills and posted a season-best .441 hitting percentage, surpassing her previous top mark of .417. Her 20.5 points also topped her previous season high of 18.5.
Avery Scoggins directed the offense with a season-high 53 assists while adding nine digs and four blocks. Her assist total surpassed her previous season best of 47 against Rutgers.
Kayla Dunlap added 11 kills and hit .444, while Maya Witherspoon finished with nine kills and two blocks. Rachel Ogunleye led Vanderbilt at the net with seven blocks as the Commodores totaled a program best 12.0 team blocks.
Vanderbilt opened the match with a convincing 25-16 first-set victory before North Carolina responded with a 26-24 win in the second to even the match. The Commodores regained control in the third, pulling away for a 25-19 victory, and closed out the afternoon with a hard-fought 27-25 win in the fourth to secure the program's first ranked victory of the season.
The Commodores return to Nashville this week for a pair of local matchups, beginning with a road contest at Belmont on Sept. 17 before hosting Lipscomb at Memorial Gymnasium on Sept. 18.