UNC Volleyball Beats JMU, Survives Colorado State Comeback to Earn 2 Home Wins

UNC stayed undefeated in 2026 with a four-set win against James Madison Thursday and a five-set thriller against Colorado State Friday, both in Carmichael Arena.

The Tar Heels dropped the first set against the Dukes Thursday despite winning the first three points. JMU flipped a 7-5 deficit into a 14-9 lead midway through the set, then held that lead to earn a 25-21 win and nose ahead in the match. Carolina then trailed 21-19 in the second set, but promptly won the next six points to even up the match at a set apiece. Chelsea Thorpe notched two kills in the 6-0 run.

There was no such drama in the third set. UNC led 1-0, JMU tied it at 1-1, and then the Tar Heels never trailed again. Carolina led by as many as nine points in the set and – despite losing three set points – eventually won 25-18. In a tight fourth set, UNC gave itself breathing room with four unanswered points midway through to take a 21-16 lead. Thorpe and Laynie Smith each slammed home kills in the match’s final few points, clinching a 25-19 win in the set and a 3-1 win in the match. Thorpe led all players with 14 kills.

Chelsea Thorpe’s 14 kills led UNC to a win vs. James Madison Thursday in Chapel Hill. (Image via UNC Athletic Communications/Dalton Wainscott)

The next night against Colorado State, the Tar Heels appeared to be well on their way to a three-set victory after winning both of the first two by scores of 25-19 and 25-21. But the Rams wouldn’t go quietly, taking an early lead in the third set and holding it the rest of the way, staving off a late Tar Heel surge to win 25-21 and push the match to a fourth set.

In the fourth set, Colorado State kept the momentum going by winning five of the first seven points. After UNC fought back to take a 7-6 lead, the Rams then won seven of the next eight points, taking a 13-8 lead and remaining in front until the end and taking the set 25-18.

The Rams kept blazing ahead early in the first-to-15 fifth set, leading 5-2 and then 10-6, just five points from a comeback win. UNC head coach Mike Schall called timeout to regroup, and that sparked the Tar Heels’ very own comeback. After trailing 12-8, a pair of clutch kills from Bridget Malone helped UNC win six of the next seven points to suddenly give itself match point. The Rams tied the match at 14-14 before Safi Hampton answered to nose Carolina back in front 15-14. Finally, the Tar Heels clinched the set off an attacking error, earning the five-set win.

UNC has now started 4-0 in each of the last three seasons under Schall’s leadership. The Tar Heels will put that record to the test when they visit No. 3 Kentucky in Lexington Wednesday at 7 p.m. The match will be televised on SEC Network.

Featured image via UNC Volleyball on Twitter

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