Head coach Joe Sagula’s UNC volleyball team is red-hot. The Tar Heels picked up their third sweep of the week, and second in 24 hours, handily defeating Davidson Saturday afternoon to move to 11-0.

As with Charlotte on Friday night, Carolina used extended runs to bury their opponent. A 13-3 run in the first set turned a 5-3 deficit into a 16-8 lead, and kills from Kaya Merkler and freshman star Mabrey Shaffmaster ensured the Tar Heels wouldn’t give up that lead. UNC won the first set, 25-16.

A 7-0 run for Carolina in the second gave them a comfortable 12-6 lead early on. The Tar Heels had no trouble putting the second frame to bed, as Shaffmaster picked up two kills down the stretch of a 25-19 set win. She finished the match as the team leader in kills, with 13.

The third and final set proved to be the most competitive. Unlike the first two frames, Carolina never had a run of more than three points won in a row. But they also never trailed by more than three, and turned around a late 21-19 Davidson lead with kills from Shaffmaster and Merkler. Finally, it was Nia Parker-Robinson putting home match point, sealing an eleventh consecutive Carolina victory to start the season.

UNC finishes the non-conference schedule a perfect 11-0 (their earlier win over Duke was not counted as a conference game), the first time the team has taken a perfect record into ACC play since 2016. Carolina will have to wait and see if they appear in next week’s national polls, where also resides their next opponent: the No. 4 Pittsburgh Panthers. Pitt also sports a spotless record, meaning next week’s clash in Carmichael Arena will be a battle of undefeated squads.

 

Featured image via Carolina Athletics

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