The UNC volleyball team had no trouble in two matches with Duke during the week, sweeping the Blue Devils first at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Wednesday night and then in Carmichael Arena on Friday night. Carolina is now 4-0 in ACC play, which is its best start since 2016.

On Wednesday night at Duke, the Tar Heels dominated the first set, jumping out to an 8-1 lead and cruising from there to a 25-16 win. Senior Mabrey Shaffmaster slammed home the decisive kill on set point, one of 10 for the standout junior on the night. The Blue Devils were more competitive in the second and third sets, but UNC pulled away late in both. Duke led 14-13 in the second before a 6-1 Tar Heel run flipped the scoreboard. Carolina wouldn’t give up the lead again, clinching the set 25-21 on a Jackie Taylor kill.

Duke led for much of the third set and even sat two points away from forcing a fourth at 23-22. But after head coach Mike Schall called timeout, Carolina won each of the next three points to steal the set and clinch the match victory, 25-23.

Ohio State transfer Chelsea Thorpe ended the night with a team-high 11 kills, while Alexis Engelbrecht and Safi Hampton each had seven.

It was more of the same in front of a raucous Tar Heel crowd in Carmichael on Friday night, as Carolina leapt out to a first-set lead and never look back. UNC’s lead grew to as large as 21-14, and kills from Safi Hampton and Emani’ Foster in the home stretch secured a 25-19 win in the set.

Duke led midway through the second at 14-11, but a 9-2 Carolina flipped the score on its head and set up another win for the Tar Heels. UNC scored its final three points of the 25-21 win on Blue Devil errors. The third set was the most lopsided, with Carolina winning the first six points and cruising to a 25-16 win to seal the match.

Foster and Thorpe tied for the team lead with 11 kills, and the team totaled 41 compared to just 29 for Duke.

Carolina now sits at 12-1 overall, its best start through 13 matches since the 2013 season. The Tar Heels will be back in action in another rivalry matchup on Friday, October 11 at 7 p.m. when they visit NC State in Raleigh.

 

Featured image via UNC Volleyball on Twitter

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