Several Tar Heels received recognition from the ACC for their performances during the last week of action. Divers Anton Down-Jenkins and Aranza Vazquez were named the conference’s Men’s and Women’s Divers of the Week, Ally Sentnor of the women’s soccer team was named Offensive Player of the Week, Anita Babic of the volleyball team was named Freshman of the Week and Erin Matson and Madison Orobono of the field hockey team won Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week.

Down-Jenkins and Vazquez each helped the Tar Heels to dual meet wins against UNC-Wilmington on Friday. Down-Jenkins, a senior, swept the one-meter and three-meter springboard competitions for the 10th consecutive dual meet. His streak dates back to the 2020-21 season. This is the seventh time Down-Jenkins has been named ACC Diver of the Week.

Vazquez, a junior, also swept the one-meter and three-meter springboard competitions. This is the fourth time she has won a Diver of the Week honor. She and Down-Jenkins have both represented their countries in the Olympics, having competed in Tokyo in the summer of 2021.

The swimming and diving teams will compete next against South Carolina on November 5 at 10 a.m. in Chapel Hill.

Sentnor, a redshirt freshman, was named Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in her young career. She scored the game-winning goals in each of Carolina’s wins this past week at Florida State and Miami. She now has three game-winning goals this season (tied for the team lead) and five total goals (tied for third on the team). Sentnor and the Tar Heels will finish up the regular season at Louisville on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Babic’s Freshman of the Week win is her second in a row. In a pair of victories at NC State and Duke on Friday and Sunday, Babic averaged nearly 10 assists per set while stuffing the stat sheet with 12 digs, eight kills, seven blocks and an ace. Her six kills against NC State tied a career high. Babic’s average of 9.15 assists per set in ACC play is the highest of any freshman. She and the volleyball team will be back in action Friday against Georgia Tech in Carmichael Arena. That match starts at 6 p.m.

In wins against Virginia and Saint Joseph’s, Matson combined for three goals and three assists, extending her own personal ACC points record while celebrating her Senior Day on Sunday. Orobono anchored a Carolina defense which only allowed one goal on 18 shots across the two games. By comparison, Carolina took 30 shots.

The Tar Heels are the only undefeated team left in Division 1 field hockey at 14-0, and will conclude the regular season at Duke on Saturday at noon.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati

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