University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Volleyball Hosts Annual Special Olympics Clinic
March 30, 2015 | Volleyball, Carolina Outreach
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina volleyball program held its 8th annual Special Olympics volleyball clinic Sunday in Carmichael Arena.
The clinic had over 20 athletes and their unified partners from teams in Gaston and Mitchell County participate, in addition to 14 student-athletes and the coaching staff from UNC.
"This is a wonderful day for our players to share their love for the game with some great people who represent North Carolina in the Special Olympic programs," head coach Joe Sagula said. "Being involved with the SONC has become a tradition for our program and each year there is such a wonderful dynamic between the SONC athletes and our student-athletes here at UNC.
“Today is definitely a day for sharing, as not only do the SONC athletes learn on these days, but our own student-athletes are impacted and learn equally in the time we spend together."
The participants learned volleyball skills for the first portion of the clinic, and then the Tar Heels split up to join the participating teams and engage in 6-on-6 play.
"Working the Special Olympics clinic is such a joy every year,” Paige Neuenfeldt said. “I'm never sure who is having more fun, the participants or the Carolina girls. It's so important for us to get the chance to step back from the competitive aspect of the game and really enjoy all the smiles it brings."
“We feel it is important to give our time whenever we can back to our community and the state, and how better than to use our sport as the vehicle to relate to others,” Sagula concluded.
