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University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina Opens ACC Play against FSU, Syracuse
September 24, 2014 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina volleyball will travel to No. 6 Florida State before hosting Syracuse in the first weekend of Atlantic Coast Conference play.
The No. 12 Tar Heels (9-1) moved up one spot in the AVCA Coaches Poll after going 2-0 in the ACC – Big 12 Challenge, with victories over Oklahoma and West Virginia.
PREVIEWING NO. 6 FLORIDA STATE
The Seminoles are one of only nine undefeated teams left in Division I volleyball, after storming through an impressive preseason schedule that pitted FSU against Nebraska, Iowa State, Florida, and Texas A&M.
Florida State opened their 2014 season with an electric victory over then-No. 7 Nebraska. The Seminoles dropped the Huskers 3-1 in front of a packed crowd of 8,569 people in the Devaney Center. Sophomore outside hitter Katie Horton had 17 kills and 11 digs, her first double-double for FSU.
The Seminoles are a balanced squad, led by experienced players Katie Mosher and Nicole Walch. Mosher, a four-year starter, is only 73 digs away from breaking the FSU record for career digs. Meanwhile, Nicole Walch is leading the team with 4.21 kills/set at a .283 hitting percentage.
Head Coach Chris Poole took over the FSU program in 2008, and immediately began the Seminoles ascent to the top of the ACC and national rankings. Poole won his first ACC title in 2009, then two years later made an appearance in the national semifinals, falling to UCLA 3-0.
North Carolina is 20-37 all-time against Florida State, with their last meeting coming in Tallahassee last season. Florida State dropped the Tar Heels 3-2 behind 28 total blocks, a Florida State record.
The match, which is the highest-ranked match-up of two ACC teams in the conference's volleyball history, will be streamed live on ESPN3 at 7 p.m. Friday.
PREVIEWING SYRACUSE
Head Coach Leonid Yelin is in his third season leading the Syracuse Orange, after a distinguished career with Louisville and time with the Uzbekistan National teams. His Orange currently sit at 7-5, after going 2-1 in the Otto Invitational in Syracuse, N.Y.
Syracuse is led by outside hitter Silvi Uattari, a 6-0 powerhouse who is knocking down 3.64 kills/set for the Orange. Monika Salkute, a 6-3 middle blocker, is close behind, contributing 2.94 kills/set and .91 blocks/set.
The Orange beat Cornell in their last outing, defeating the Bears 3-1 behind 20 kills from Salkute. Valeriya Shaipova contributed six kills for the Orange in the victory.
North Carolina is 4-1 all-time against the Orange, with the last match coming as a 3-0 victory for the Tar Heels at Syracuse.
UNC will face Syracuse Sunday at 2 p.m. in Carmichael Arena. The match will serve as the first of three Team Days hosted by UNC volleyball, where players of all ages and levels are invited to bring their teams and support the Tar Heels. There will be an team autograph session after the match in the lobby.
