Two successful Tar Heel programs hope to take the next steps toward potential national championships this weekend. The UNC men’s soccer team hits the road at UCLA, while the Carolina volleyball squad opens up its NCAA Tournament inside the cozy confines of Carmichael Arena.

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Head coach Carlos Somoano’s men’s soccer team is on the doorstep of a College Cup in its own back yard.

The final four schools will contest the closing matches just down the road from Chapel Hill at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary – the 15-5-1 Tar Heels sure wouldn’t have far to go to celebrate a national championship on Franklin Street.

Rob Lovejoy in action (UNC Athletics)

Rob Lovejoy in action (UNC Athletics)

But before those dreams can be met, UNC must find a way past No. 2 seed UCLA on their home turf, a daunting task to say the least.

Unseeded Carolina, one of only two remaining in the quarterfinals, will rely heavily on senior forward Rob Lovejoy, who was named TopDrawerSoccer’s Player of the Week after scoring both goals in his team’s 2-1 triumph over Clemson last Sunday night.

With Lovejoy’s offensive prowess and UNC keeper Brendan Moore’s proclivity for goal-saving heroics, the Tar Heels will go into Saturday night’s 8 p.m. showdown in Los Angeles with a shot.

Meanwhile, back on the east coast, the Tar Heel women are ready to serve up a storm on the volleyball court.

Fresh off an ACC regular season title, UNC head coach Joe Sagula says he’s proud of his team’s accomplishments in 2014.

“Without question, this team has done a lot of great things this year – highest ranking ever, highest RPI ever, finishing with a conference championship. It’s going to go down as a pretty special thing to beat. I’m excited for them all,” Coach Sagula says.

Chaniel Nelson with the spike (UNC Athletics)

Chaniel Nelson with the spike (UNC Athletics)

Fifth-year senior Chaniel Nelson, who earned her second ACC Player of the Week honors on Monday, says she couldn’t be more excited for the way her final season in Carolina uniform has turned out.

“I am very excited. This makes my fifth year priceless in my eyes. We have more to. That’s what I’m even more excited about. I can’t wait until next week when we host for the first time in so long. This team is really special,” Nelson says.

Senior Ece Taner, from Turkey, says it’s special to know she’s leaving a meaningful mark on the UNC volleyball program.

“I can’t describe to you how proud, happy and excited I am to be able to make an impact on this program and be able to leave something for other teammates. When I come back and watch my teammates compete, I get to see the banner and say, ‘Wow, I did something here.’ That’s everything you could ask for,” Taner says.

But don’t let Taner’s excitement fool you. She’s not satisfied. The Tar Heels want more.

“This was one of our goals. Our mission still continues. We still have hopefully, four more games to go. We’re really excited about that. We’re humble, we’re hungry, and we want more,” Taner says.

A humble and hungry mindset could produce a winning combo for the 26-2 Tar Heels, who open NCAA Tournament play Friday night against 21-10 Hampton.