Aug. 25, 2006

NORMAN, Okla. --- North Carolina used a balanced attack to win its seventh consecutive season opener, sweeping Idaho, 32-30, 30-22, 30-21, Friday afternoon in the Sooner Legends Nike Invitational at Oklahoma's McCasland Field House. Stephanie Jansma notched a double-double with 29 assists and 15 digs, while Brianna Eskola had a team-high 17 digs. Five Tar Heels had at least five kills, with Bekah Brinkley leading the way with a match-high 11.

Game one was tight throughout, with neither team leading by more than four at any point in the frame. Carolina (1-0) opened up a modest 14-10 lead on a Lauren Prussing kill and still led by four at 21-17 after a Brinkley ace. But a timeout sparked Idaho (0-2) and the Vandals quickly won five straight points to take a 22-21 lead. The two squads traded points until an Erin Curtis ace gave Idaho game point at 29-28. After a side out evened the score at 29, UNC won three of the final four points to take the game. Jansma and Amy Beaver teamed up for the first Tar Heel block of the game to end it.

After looking sluggish at times in game one, Carolina was sharp in game two, rolling to a 30-22 win. The Tar Heels outhit the Vandals .310 to .167 and committed just five attack errors. UNC never trailed in the game and led by as many as nine at 26-17. Meg Eckert, who struggled mightily in the opening stanza, had a game-high six kills on 11 swings. Eckert, Brinkley and Beaver combined for 15 of Carolina's 18 kills in the frame.

UNC used a 14-5 run to break open a tight third game and seal the match with a 30-21 win. Despite recording just nine kills and hitting .043, the Tar Heels took control thanks in large part to a net presence that tallied seven blocks in the game. Beaver led the way with four block assists and a solo stuff. Freshman Megan Owens, who along with Heather Brooks saw her first career action Friday, came off the bench late in the game to record three kills, two blocks and a match-clinching ace.

Up next for Carolina is Arkansas, who also defeated Idaho Friday. First serve for Saturday's match is set for 2 p.m. CDT.