The UNC volleyball team is off to a 2-0 start to the 2026 season after straight set victories at Davidson Saturday and at home against UNC-Wilmington Sunday.
Opening the season with a true road match for the first time since 2022, the Tar Heels trailed for much of the first set against the Wildcats. Davidson scored the set’s first three points and led 20-19, but clutch kills from UNC’s Safi Hampton, Laynie Smith and Chelsea Thorpe helped Carolina close the set with a 6-2 run and win 25-22. The Tar Heels had an easier time in a 25-17 second-set win, but once again had to sweat things out in the third. Davidson had tied the set at 20-20 and sat a point behind at 23-22 before an attacking error gave Carolina match point. Thorpe then did the honors, hammering home her team-best 11th kill of the day to seal the straight-sets win. It marked the fourth straight season UNC has won its opening match.
In the home opener Sunday at Carmichael Arena, the Tar Heels had little trouble dispatching UNC-Wilmington in straight sets. In fact, the Seahawks scored just 35 total points across the match’s three frames. Thorpe had another strong performance with nine kills, tied with Bridget Malone – daughter of UNC men’s basketball head coach Michael Malone – for the team lead. Overall, Carolina’s hitting percentage of .470 was its highest in a match since 2016.
Now 2-0, UNC will look to continue its hot start with two more home matches in the upcoming week. The Tar Heels will host James Madison (Thursday, Sep. 3 at 7 p.m.) and Colorado State (Friday, Sep. 4 at 6 p.m.) at Carmichael Arena.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Dalton Wainscott
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