Playing in the Dean Smith Center for just the 36th time in program history, the UNC volleyball team put together a 3-1 win over the Virginia Tech Hokies on Friday night (22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-16).
With the match taking place ahead of the annual Late Night With Roy basketball tip-off event, the Tar Heels set a new NCAA volleyball attendance record–as a crowd of 19,246 people was there to cheer them on.
Redshirt junior Taylor Leath led UNC (8-7, 5-2 ACC) with 17 kills, while teammate Holly Carlton chipped in 14 as the Tar Heels rallied from one set down to win the final three.
The loss dropped Virginia Tech to 7-11 this season, with a 1-6 record against ACC competition.
Although the crowd slowly trickled in throughout the night, it far exceeded the atmosphere the team is used to at Carmichael Arena.
“Now, we’re realists here,” head coach Joe Sagula said afterwards. “They’re not only here to see us, but it gives you a thrill to walk out when there’s already about 8,000 people in the stands. There were a lot of people here that didn’t know the game.
“I could tell that they appreciated that type of athletic move and the power behind that,” he added. “I think that inspires the people who don’t know the game to appreciate it and then they get thrilled.”
Previously, the all-time attendance record for a volleyball came during the 2015 NCAA Championship Game between Nebraska ant Texas–when 17,561 fans filled the CenturyLink Center in Omaha.
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The Tar Heels will return to action at Carmichael Arena on Saturday against the Virginia Cavaliers. That match is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.
Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)
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