The UNC volleyball team hosted Michigan State and Michigan in Carmichael Arena last weekend for the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Tar Heels emerged from the two-day event with a 1-1 record, topping the Spartans and falling to the Wolverines.

On Friday against Michigan State, Carolina recovered from an early 5-0 hole in the first set and used a late 8-1 run to pull away for the 25-16 win. The Tar Heels were the ones to jump out to an early lead in the second, and they were able to hold off a Spartan comeback by winning the final five points of the set after Michigan State closed to within 20-19.

UNC would have to work overtime to earn the sweep. The Tar Heels earned themselves two match points at 24-22, but let both slip away. The Spartans then had set points at 26-25 and 27-26, but both were denied by kills from Charley Niego. Niego’s second kill jumpstarted a 3-0 match-clinching run, and a service ace from Maddy May sealed the 29-27 win. Niego’s 15 kills were most on the team.

Saturday’s match with Michigan was competitive throughout, but the Tar Heels were on the wrong end of three tight sets. The Wolverines won the final four points of the first set to win 25-20, then broke a 23-23 tie in the second by winning three of the final four points. Carolina never led in the third, and though the Tar Heels fought off four match points and closed to within 24-23, a service error gave Michigan the sweep.

Carolina is now 5-3 on the season. The team will travel to Richmond this weekend for the three-match VCU invitational. The Tar Heels play two matches on Friday: one in the morning against Old Dominion, and a true road test with VCU that night. The event concludes with a match against UMBC the following Saturday.

 

Featured image via UNC Volleyball on Twitter

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
This Week in UNC Sports: September 21-27, 2026
This series of posts will be made weekly on Chapelboro with a full schedule of UNC sports contests, both in Chapel Hill and elsewhere. Note that game times and broadcast information are subject to change due to inclement weather or other factors. It’s a lighter week for UNC sports as we approach the end of […]
UNC Volleyball Loses to No. 1 Nebraska, Beats Florida Gulf Coast in Lincoln
UNC dropped a four-set match at No. 1 Nebraska Friday night but came back and beat Florida Gulf Coast the next day in four sets, splitting a weekend event in Lincoln. In the weekend’s first matchup against the top-ranked team in the nation, the Cornhuskers flexed their muscles in a 25-14 first set win. But […]
This Week in UNC Sports: September 14-20, 2026
The upcoming week offers several high-caliber matchups for multiple UNC teams both at home and on the road.
UNC Sports: Field Hockey, Women's Soccer Win; Volleyball Loses in New York
Several UNC women’s sports teams were in action up and down the east coast Sunday. In Virginia, the field hockey team earned a 2-1 win at Richmond, while down in Chapel Hill the women’s soccer team cruised to a 5-0 win at Dorrance Field against NJIT. Meanwhile, up in New York City, the volleyball team […]
UNC Volleyball Swept at No. 3 Kentucky, Suffers First Loss of 2026 Season
UNC fell in three sets to No. 3 Kentucky on the road in Lexington Wednesday night, suffering its first loss of the 2026 season. The Wildcats dominated the first set, winning 16 of the final 21 points on their way to a 25-11 victory. Carolina was more competitive in the final two sets, but ultimately […]
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, […]
This Week in UNC Sports: August 31-September 6, 2026
This series of posts will be made weekly on Chapelboro with a full schedule of UNC sports contests, both in Chapel Hill and elsewhere. Note that game times and broadcast information are subject to change due to inclement weather or other factors. The first week of September means that fall sports are well and truly […]
UNC Volleyball Begins 2026 Season With Consecutive Sweep Victories
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 […]
UNC Volleyball Picked 5th in ACC Preseason Poll; 2 Tar Heels Receive All-ACC Honors
UNC has been picked to finish fifth in the ACC’s preseason volleyball poll, and Tar Heels Chelsea Thorpe and Safi Hampton both were named to the league’s preseason All-ACC team. Thorpe enters the final season of her collegiate career after posing 318 kills and 90 blocks in 2025, while Hampton’s 399 kills led the team. […]
UNC Volleyball Releases 2026 Regular Season Schedule
The UNC volleyball program has released its schedule for the 2026 season, the fourth under the leadership of head coach Mike Schall. The Tar Heels are looking to build upon a 2025 season which saw them advance to the NCAA Tournament’s second round. The full slate is set😤 pic.twitter.com/BEs2INXji6 — Carolina Volleyball (@UNCVolleyball) July 14, […]
›