Make that three wins in 24 hours for the still-perfect UNC volleyball team. After going the distance with Colorado State in a five-set thriller Friday night, the Tar Heels left nothing to chance on Saturday, winning six sets out of six to take matches against Wofford and East Carolina.
The two wins move UNC to 6-0 on the season, their best start since 2016. That is also the last season the Tar Heels qualified for the NCAA Tournament, where they eventually advanced to the Sweet 16.
Carolina never trailed for a single point against the Terriers, keeping Wofford at arm’s length throughout a still-competitive first set. The 25-21 set score would be the closest the Terriers would get to the Tar Heels, as UNC buried Wofford early in the second frame with an 8-2 run. Set three proved even more dominant, with Carolina nearly doubling up the visitors, 25-13.
Hometown heroine Kaya Merkler threw a block party with teammate Amanda Phegley, as the pair combined for eight of Carolina’s 16 blocks against the Terriers. Merkler is from Chapel Hill and competed in high school for the Chapel Hill High Tigers.
Merkler and Phegley continued their strong play in the doubleheader nightcap against East Carolina, again combining for eight blocks across three sets of volleyball. The ever-reliable Nia Parker-Robinson paced Carolina with nine kills against the Pirates.
The Tar Heels jumped out to a 14-4 first set lead against ECU and cruised from there, taking the frame by a 25-19 score. The Pirates put up a stiffer challenge in the second, winning five of the first six points, but Phegley and graduate Emily Zinger led UNC on the comeback trail. Carolina went on an extended 24-16 run to take the second frame, 25-21.
In the third, powerful serving from freshman star Mabrey Shaffmaster proved no match for the demoralized Pirates, as Carolina blew ECU out of Carmichael Arena, 25-15.
For the two matches, the Tar Heels outscored their two opponents 150-107. They have won 18 total sets while only dropping four so far this season.
The 6-0 Tar Heels will travel to the Great Lakes State for their next two matches, playing true road games against Michigan State on Friday, September 10 and No. 23 Michigan on Sunday, September 12 as part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
Featured image via The Daily Tar Heel
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