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University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Break Into Top 10 Of AVCA Poll
September 12, 2016 | Volleyball
CHAPEL HILL – Following a victory over No. 2 Wisconsin on Friday night, Carolina volleyball (6-1) moved into the top 10 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Poll, coming in at No. 8. It marks the 11th time that UNC has appeared in the top 10 of the AVCA Coaches Poll and fourth straight season with at least one week in the top 10.
The Tar Heels broke into the top 10 for the first time in program history on Oct. 7, 2013, after road wins over Syracuse and Boston College extended their season-opening winning streak to 15-straight matches. Carolina suffered its first loss of the season the next week and subsequently fell to No. 13.
UNC returned to the top 10 on Oct. 20, 2014, jumping up two spots to No. 9 after a sweep of then-No. 21 Duke. The Tar Heels stayed in the top 10 for the remainder of the season, reaching a program-high No. 7 for the final four weeks of the season on the way to their first-ever NCAA Regional Final appearance.
The Tar Heels remained at No. 7 for the 2015 Preseason Poll, but a pair of losses to ranked opponents on opening weekend caused UNC to fall 18th in the first poll of the regular season.
UNC debuted at No. 19 in the 2016 Preseason Poll, but a perfect opening weekend, including a marquee defeat of No. 9 Penn State, allowed Carolina to jump all the way to No. 12. Wins over Duke and TCU in week two moved UNC up to No. 11, and UNC's unforgettable five-set victory over No. 2 Wisconsin on Sept. 9 moved the Tar Heels up three more spots to No. 8 in this week's poll. The Tar Heels are 6-1 so far on the season, with their sole loss coming at the hands of then-No. 5 Minnesota on Sept. 10, who has since moved up to No. 3.
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AVCA Coaches Poll (Sept. 12, 2016) |
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| Rk. | School (First-Place Votes) | Points | Record | Last |
| 1 | Nebraska (64) | 1600 | 6-0 | 1 |
| 2 | Texas | 1500 | 7-1 | 3 |
| 3 | Minnesota | 1416 | 5-1 | 5 |
| 4 | Kansas | 1389 | 9-0 | 4 |
| 5 | Washington | 1304 | 8-0 | 6 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 1247 | 6-1 | 2 |
| 7 | Florida | 1210 | 6-1 | 8 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 1164 | 6-1 | 11 |
| 9 | BYU | 1111 | 9-0 | 10 |
| 10 | San Diego | 971 | 5-2 | 15 |
| 11 | UCLA | 941 | 7-1 | 7 |
| 12 | Stanford | 885 | 4-2 | 9 |
| 13 | Florida State | 818 | 6-1 | 13 |
| 14 | Purdue | 692 | 7-1 | 20 |
| 15 | Hawai'i | 673 | 5-4 | 14 |
| 16 | Texas A&M | 617 | 6-3 | 16 |
| 17 | Santa Clara | 586 | 9-0 | 19 |
| 18 | Colorado | 518 | 5-2 | 18 |
| 19 | Ohio State | 462 | 7-2 | 12 |
| 20 | Penn State | 434 | 5-3 | 17 |
| 21 | Southern California | 207 | 6-3 | 24 |
| 22 | Michigan State | 194 | 8-1 | NR |
| 23 | Michigan | 152 | 8-1 | 22 |
| 24 | Oregon | 148 | 7-2 | NR |
| 25 | Kansas State | 110 | 7-2 | NR |
Others receiving votes and listed on two or more ballots: Dayton 91; Missouri State 83; Illinois 72; Western Kentucky 68; Iowa State 22; Wichita State 20; Washington State 16; Creighton 14; Pittsburgh 11; Long Beach State 10; Loyola Marymount 6; UNLV 6; Marquette 5; Lipscomb 4
Dropped Out: Illinois 21; Western Kentucky 23; Loyola Marymount 25
